Wauneta celebrates Harvest Fest weekend in style

Wauneta residents had plenty of activities to choose from during this year’s Harvest Fest.
The sloppy joe feed at the Senior Center and a four-team kickball tournament at the ball field started off festivities last Thursday evening.
Harchelroad Motors sponsored the winning kickball team. The Frenchman Auto team placed second.
Pool games, sponsored by the Village of Wauneta and BWTelcom, kicked off Friday evening. Kids competed in four-man boat race relays and a pop dive.
After the games were completed, Village Superintendent Bill Bischoff and his crew went to work to install a new high diving board before the BWTelcom-sponsored night swim.
The Galen Todd Memorial Cornhole Tournament featured 24 teams. Coming in first were Chad and Jennifer DeWester. Shane Anderson and Aaron McKinney were second, followed by Austen Rozelle and Braxton McKinney. RanDee Littrel was the winner of the raffle for a set of cornhole boards.
Going on simultaneously was the sand volleyball tournament. Four teams took part. Coming out on top was EZ Does it, made up of Chad and Taylor Flaig, Shane and Larissa Gerhartz, Faith Simpson and Mitch Nelms.
Saturday opened with the 5K Yucca Run on a cool and breezy morning. Chris Bartels finished with the fastest overall time, 22:30, followed by Jake Maris in second. Mark Gilman of Colby, Kansas won the 70-79 year age bracket. It was the 50th medal Gilman has won in five decades of running.
On the women’s side, Jen Harris had the fastest time, followed by Rose Cayer.
Haven Hauxwell was the first finisher in the Fun Run.
The BWTelcom breakfast served around 100 people before wrapping up at 9 a.m.
The weather stayed cool for the parade, which featured 30 entries. Tony Cribelli served as Grand Marshall with his family.
First place went to Sandhills State Bank, second place to Hamlet Union Church and third place to Susie’s Creative Stitches, with Maddux Feeds earning honorable mention.
Following the parade, Sandhills State Bank sponsored kids games.
Participants had fun with a stroller race, stick horse race, bicycle course and nickle scramble.
Harchelroad Motors, Wauneta Crossroads, Walgren’s Supermarket and Eyelookgood were stops for the Harchelroad Motors-sponsored Poker Walk.
Jolene Muths won $75 for her winning hand. Jason Arellano won $50 for second place and Rosemary Corey $25 for third place.
Also on main street was the Wauneta EMS Open House.
HomeTown Agency served 300 at its courtesy lunch in the BWTelcom building.
Fourteen cars parked along the east side of the ball field for a car show. No prizes were awarded.
The Cody Fanning Memorial Horseshoe Tournament was won by Coleton Doetker and Jesse Kerchal. Twenty-four teams were entered.
Micah Bley was the first to the Frenchman River east bridge, winning the River Raft Race sponsored by HFC Egress. Out of the 18 entries, 12 completed the race. The $500 in prize money was split evenly between 15 entries.
Coming out on top of the Wauneta Volunteer Fire Department Smoke Off was Pits and Spits BBQ as overall champion after winning the rubs and pork butt competition. Kenny Adams won the brisket competition. Nine teams were entered.
The day also featured free swimming at the pool during the afternoon and free music in the park by Night Sounds during the evening.
Harvest Fest wrapped up Sunday with lunch at the Senior Center and the ranch rodeo with barrel racing at Smith Arena.
Double Diamond Ranch came out on top at the ranch rodeo. Team members were Jesse Kerchal, Lane Scott, Steve Heitman and Jake McKormic.
Imperial Auction Market (Preston Smith, Casey Donohue, Tim Yrkoski and Josh Fanning) was second and The 4 Amigos (Normando Segovia, Guadalupe Gomez, Luis Meneses and Jesus Valdez) placed third.
Zoey Boos won the 14-years-and-over barrel racing, followed by Emma Christman.
In the 13-years-and-under group, Lexie Yrkoski was first, Tessa Smith second and Ryder Richards was third.
Nine Ranch Rodeo teams took part and there were 11 barrel racers.