Lining Main Street in Stoughton on Saturday, July 5, were a mass of vehicles, adults, and excited children awaiting the parade for Stoughton Daze.
The night before, however, saw 53 people come out to enjoy a Texas Scramble tournament at the Stoughton Golf Course. This kicked off events for the weekend.
This was the Stoughton Golf Course's first public tournament for the year, the other one having been cancelled due to weather, meant that people were ready for a little fun on the course, especially with the mood of Stoughton Daze in the air and very cooperative weather.
Before flocking to Main Street for the parade people enjoyed a pancake breakfast at the Fire Hall. The volunteer fire fighters had arranged workers to cook and provide a large meal to start off the day for only $7.
There were about 60 floats in the parade ranging from the town's fire truck, RCMP car, the New Hope Horse Club on horseback, and numerous businesses and organizations from around town. Candy was tossed to children and adults alike, while the Fire Department cooled off a few people by spraying water along the trip. Other floats continued this nice reprieve from the heat by tossing water balloons into the crowd.
One of the Stoughton Daze traditions is to take the parade by New Hope Lodge, which is something that they like to do to include those at the Lodge in the festivities.
Following the parade people made their way over to the Fairgrounds where numerous activities were being held. This included a slow pitch tournament, music in the beer gardens by The Milk Man's Sons, and a chance to meet Gainer the Gopher.
Also found at the Fairgrounds were numerous children's activities including bouncy castles, various fair games, face painting, and a sprinkler was set up to let kids cool off throughout the day as the sun was sweltering.
Inside the rink Carolynn Chaytors, organizer of the spring craft show in Stoughton, had invited vendors from around the community to display and sell their products. Hoping to make it an annual event, the curling rink became a nice way to escape the heat and drew in crowds looking to get out of the sun for a minute.
"I like to have some variety, not the same repetitive booths," Chaytors explained. "There's a good mix of home created items and it just adds to all the events going on. I think it worked out nicely and I hope to make it a yearly thing."
Found in the craft sale were the "Knot Sew Crafty Ladies," Audrey Cooper and her daughter Sheila Levesque who had taken up making blankets for family members and decided to make them on a larger scale. The Stoughton Daze trade show was the first they had attended and were excited to see how it would go.
As the excitement wound up on Saturday, many were looking forward to enjoying Sunday, July 6, on the Fairgrounds where Red Neck Races were being held by the Stoughton Demo Derby and a Gymkhana was held by the New Hope Horse Club.
Twenty-five horse enthusiasts were out and ready to begin by 9:30 a.m. The morning began with hunting/jumping classes for riders to take in with their horses. This was followed by a costume class, which is a lot of fun for many of the riders.
The day continued with a best rider category held for senior riders, youth 14-years to 18-years-old, youth seven to 13, pee wee (six and under), and novices of any age. The same categories would again be seen in the flag race, the run and ride, pole bending, and bare back classes.
Other rides included pairs in either English or Western attire, here the riders and horses have to listen for cues and keep their horses side by side while completing the instructions. The final class was the Ranch Horse Competition.
The top in each class throughout the day earned ribbons and enjoyed time bonding with their animals.
This is the third year that the New Hope Horse Club has held the gymkhana in conjunction with Stoughton Daze and it has been a great success as it continually grows each year.
"It went really good," DeeAnna Lyke explained. "We had a bunch of new participants and everyone had a good time. The judge was happy with the turnout too because you don't always see that many participants come out."
Away from the rodeo grounds on Sunday, nestled south of the ball diamonds were the Red Neck Races. The Stoughton Demo Derby had 12 entries with competitors taking an old beater around a track with uneven terrain and mud.
The vehicles had to follow a track set out and in each heat the one to complete the most laps in the time limit would advance.
In front of a large crowd the Redneck Races were again a success as cars, trucks, and jeeps sped around the track flinging mud and bounding over bumps.
Corey Bacon had to laugh as he explained a car won the event again, for the third year in a row, "It doesn't matter if you bring a truck or a four-wheel drive, it seems like a car just somehow wins."
Winners of the final race were Danielle Beckstead in first, James Pare in second and local Redneck Racer Corey Walbaum took third.
"It went fairly well, we got stuck and had a couple problems but we solved them," Bacon said. "The skid steer and skid steer operator we had lined up couldn't come, but we had pickups out to pull vehicles. Some parts were a little sticky, but overall from those I talked to everyone had fun."
In the end the weather cooperated and Stoughton became the destination spot for many. Stoughton Daze had something for everyone and was enjoyed by many from the community and from the surrounding area, with all activities succeeding through volunteers and local sponsors of the events.
