4th of July

The 4th of July has passed for another year and once again La Farge celebrated Independence Day in good style. The celebration, which began on Friday night, July 2 and ran through the 4th was a fun time for lots of people. The only downer for the weekend was that the Hot-Air Balloon Rides, the Legends vs. Icons baseball game and the fireworks were washed away by the late rains on the 4th.

Some new events highlighted this year's celebration in the little Kickapoo River town. A leadoff event on Friday night was the Snap, Crackle & Pop 5K Run/Walk, which attracted over 50 participants. The route ran from the Lions Shelter next to the baseball park, up Seelyburg Road, across the Kickapoo River and on to the dam site on the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Running off Old Highway 131, runners and walkers took the "Dam Loop" trail, passing the dam tower on the way and then headed back down Corps Road and into old Seelyburg before returning to La Farge.

Saturday saw several new events as well. The Antique Tractor Pull drew a surprising number of participants with 105 "hooks" in the four pulling classes. After the big tractors were finished, the kids had fun participating in the Peddle Pull. In the evening both the Bingo Bizarro and the Singing Bee were well enjoyed by all who attended.

I was involved with a local history display that we put up in the school gym. We had displays that featured Ray Calhoon's baseball uniform, artifacts and photographs from old Seelyburg, photos on former La Farge businesses and the Kickapoo Railroad (including some newly discovered photos of the Lawton railroad tunnel). Since Saturday was also the All-School Reunion at the school, there were also lots of old school photos as well as a continuous slide show of school photos and a video history of the school. We had lots of people go through the history display on both July 3, the day of the reunion and the next day on the 4th.

On the 4th, there was a legion game between LaCrescent and Westby, with both teams being coached by LHS graduates, Jamie Muller and John Hamilton. It looks like a legion tournament is in the works for next year at La Farge's 4th of July. I can't wait.