The annual Arcola Antique Ag Daze hosted on Sunday, July 5, was well attended with numerous activities hosted throughout the day to make it an enjoyable yet educational experience.
A pancake breakfast began the day at the local fire hall, which was well attended.
Main Street was slowly lined by vehicles and people as the parade began at 10:30 a.m. Numerous floats took part in the excitement with a variety of prizes offered in different categories:
- Commercial Floats: first was the Arcola Co-op, in second was Plainsview Credit Union, and third went to Tedz Tavern.
- Out of Town Float: Craig Erick
- ATVs: first was won by Tristan and Cohen Brownridge, second was earned by Four Ridge Farms, and third went to the Shriners.
- Decorated Vintage Vehicles: first was given to Cliff Nankivell and Brian Crump earned both second and third for this category.
- Bikes six and under: Brendon Weiss and Kobe Wotta
- Bikes nine and under: Nathan Weiss and Reese Karlunchuk
- Bikes nine and over: Ethan Wotta and Zane Karlunchuk
- Tractors: Clyde Hall, Dale Anthony, and Don Lees
- Other farm equipment: Dennis Cruywell, Dennis Curtis, and Lyle Stomp
- Collector vehicles not decorated: Steve Hoey, Trevor James, and Darwin Taylor
The parade made its way down Main Street and towards the Fair Grounds where the collector cars branched off entering the rink where a show and shine was held throughout the day. The antique tractors were lined up outside for people to look at, while some also participated in a tractor pull later in the day.
Numerous children’s activities including face painting, bouncers, and Freitag’s Petting Zoo were set up to be enjoyed.
Demonstrations were held throughout the day with a threshing demo, stationary baler demo, rope making, shingle making, and blacksmithing demos held.
The rope making demo brought in a large group as it was a participatory activity with those attending helping make the rope with Albert Hanson of Ceylon directing people in what to do.
Aird Romich, of Ponderosa Forge from Swift Current, also drew crowds who were interested in how blacksmithing works. Romich returned to the Ag Daze after participating in it last year as well.
During Ag Daze, a quilt show, agricultural fair exhibits, and antiques were displayed inside the Legacy Pavilion. This included antiques from a local’s personal collection as well as photographs displayed from the early 1900s by another local collector of photos taken in and of Arcola.
Both tractor pulls and heavy horse pulls were held, with the heavy horse pulls drawing a crowd amazed with the power of the teams.
Fair exhibits ranged from photography to baked goods to crafts and is slowly growing with entrants each year.
A delicious supper was held which was created by the David and Shelley Slykhuis just before the second Saskatchewan Express show was held. The talented youth put on two shows throughout the day: one at 2 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m.
One of the new and fun features this year included a pie eating contest. With blueberry pies used for the occasion John Davies Jr. of Arcola took home the first place prize of $300. Second place was earned by a crew member of Saskatchewan Express: “He had a large cheering section,” Brian Crump, a member of Arcola Fair and Stampede, laughed. While third place went to Tammy Palmer of Arcola.
“It was a lot of fun there were good horse entries, neat old tractors, and the kids really had fun,” Crump said. “It went over really well and everyone was satisfied with the day.”
