Golf, art, fundraisers, food and friendly competition bring community together
There was a little bit of everything happening around Wessington Springs during Foothills Days Aug. 7-8, as a collection of community events filled the weekend with golf, art, food, music, fundraisers and friendly competition.
The weekend got underway Friday morning with the X-Mayor’s Classic Golf Tournament at Springs Country Club. Jay Ball and Craig Kludt carded a 60 to claim the championship flight and lead a field of golfers competing across four flights.
By Friday afternoon, attention turned to Main Street as the inaugural SACOTA Community Art & Photography Showcase opened at The Art Loft. Artists and photographers of all ages filled the space with paintings, sketches, photography, sculpture and other works. A reception and open house Friday evening gave the community another opportunity to view the entries, with the exhibit continuing into Saturday. SACOTA thanks the community for such incredible support. The show boasted 104 entries and over 100 community members viewed the art and photos. SACOTA thanks the judges from Huron, who were impressed with the talent in our community: Craig Lee, Linda Marcus and Nita Sitterley.
Friday evening also brought one of the weekend’s longtime traditions as the Wessington Springs Volunteer Fire Department welcomed the community to the fire hall for its ninth annual Fun Fest. Burgers and brats were on the grill as supporters gathered for an evening of food and fellowship.
The evening continued with a showing of “Jurassic Park” during Movie in the Park, hosted by the Hasty family and Wessington Springs Area Chamber & Development with popcorn and drinks sponsored by BankWest.
Saturday morning brought activity throughout town. Rummage-sale shoppers were out early searching for treasures during the citywide rummage sales, while Rhaelyn hosted Sweets for a Cause on Main St. The morning bake sale raised more than $1,000 for the Old Grade Trail and City Park Improvement project.
Meanwhile, smoke was already rising near the tennis courts at Wessington Springs City Park, where cooks began preparing their entries for the annual Rockin’ Ribfest.
By afternoon, the park became the center of Foothills Days activity with food, a beer garden, cornhole competition and, of course, ribs. Blake, Bailey and Randy Willman claimed first place in the rib competition, followed by Scott Miller and Brian Kolousek in second and Holden Jackson and Rylan Fagerhaug in third.
Cornhole players competed in social, competitive and blinddraw divisions. Tobi Peterson and Alex Engbarth won the social division, Travis and Austin Kleinsasser topped the competitive division, and Travis Kleinsasser and James Linn teamed up to win the blind draw. Live music from Brett Miller and Bad Habits carried the celebration into Saturday evening, wrapping up two days that showcased a little of everything Wessington Springs has to offer.
FOOTHILLS DAYS RESULTS
X-Mayor’s Classic Golf Tournament
Championship Flight: 1. Jay Ball and Craig Kludt, 60; 2. Larry Keeton and Mark Keeton, 61; 3. Sean McDannel and Jay Fischer, 64.
First Flight: 1. Clay Wenzel and Cody Plamp, 68; 2. Brian Amick and Regina Teveldal, 68; 3. Eric Prunty and Derick McTighe, 68.
Second Flight: 1. Joh Bethell and Matt Nürnberg, 70; 2. Jim Wente and Mike Ring, 71; 3. Brian Kolousek and Nantie Bothma, 71.
Third Flight: 1. Tyler Fastnacht and Scott Whitehead, 76; 2. Vicki Fox and Bobby Tomas, 76; 3. Brian Bergeleen and Charlie Bergeleen, 77.
Rockin’ Ribfest
Rib competition: First place - EZ $ Rib Co. (Blake, Bailey and Randy Willman); Second Place - Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em (Scott Miller and Brian Kolousek); Third place - Rubdown Rascals (Holden Jackson and Rylan Fagerhaug.)
Cornhole Tournament
Social Division: 1. Tobi Peterson and Alex Engbarth; 2. Kathy Watson and Jimmy Hines; 3. Shane Peterson and Adam Roemen; 4. Parker and Ethan.
Competitive Division: 1. Travis and Austin Kleinsasser; 2. Kassandra Mohr and Jarod Ceretti; 3. Sara Kleinsasser and Tyler Fernau; 4. Colton and Aran Anderson.
Blind Draw: 1. Travis Kleinsasser and James Linn; 2. Aran Anderson and Jacob Messmer; 3. Colton Anderson and Mariah Messmer.
Dakota Plumbing Company and Fire & Ice Heating and Cooling sponsored trophies and prize money. Stacey Shoenfelder and Cornhub City Cornhole provided score towers, scoring software and assistance with the tournament.
SACOTA Community Art & Photography Showcase
YOUTH
Photography — Flowers: 1. Quinn Evans; 2. Emerson Schimke; 3. Emerson Schimke. People: 1. Quinn Evans.
Acrylic: 1. Zachary Kruse; 2. Benton Grohs; 3. Bristol Grohs.
Oil: 1. Maisie O’Day; 2. Maisie O’Day.
Sketching: 1. Drew Duxbury; 2. Zoe Duxbury.
Watercolor: 1. Charlee Anson; 2. Shae Bergeleen; 3. Shae Bergeleen.
ADULT
Photography — People: 1. Dustin Evans; 2. Darlene Kutzler; 3. Susan Olson. Landscape: 1. Jim Schmidt; 2. Lynette Jungemann; 3. Matt Anson. Flowers: 1. Darrell Deneke; 2. Sandy Uecker; 3. Cindy Eilers. Animals/Birds: 1. Darrell Deneke; 2. Lynette Jungemann; 3. Sandy Uecker.
Acrylic: 1. Teresa Fonder; 2. Diane Leis; 3. Teresa Fonder.
Oil: 1. Teresa Fonder; 2. Jim Schmidt; 3. Jim Schmidt.
Watercolor: 1. Brock Krueger; 2. Rydell Krueger; 3. Matt Anson.
Sketching: 1. Brock Krueger; 2. Brock Krueger; 3. Haleigh Mulder.
OTHER CATEGORIES
Photography: 1. Jim Schmidt; 2. Jim Schmidt; 3. Jim Schmidt.
Sculpting: 1. Jeanie Severson; 2. Jeanie Severson; 3. Jeanie Severson.
Digital Photography: 1. Donna Cosby; 2. Donna Cosby