Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Fun for everyone at the 2018 Farmer's Day

Kimball will be bursting with activity this weekend as the Farmer’s Day committee has planned lots of family friendly and fun activities for celebrants of all ages.

Though the official day is Saturday, Sept. 29, the fun begins on Friday with the Friends of the Library book sale at the Kimball Public Library from 3 – 6 p.m. and a soup supper hosted by the Kimball Friendship Senior Center from 5 – 7 p.m.

Cruise night begins at 6 and lasts through 9 p.m. on Friday as well, with cars meeting at the Kimball Event Center where, for the first hour, there will be a beer fest tasting event as well.

Friends of the Goodhand Theatre will show Lion King at Gotte Park beginning at 7:30 p.m. and movie goers are reminded to bring lawn chairs and blankets to stay comfortable.

The night isn’t complete without live music, and Beer & Loathing has it covered with the Stahla Ford Band.

Saturday morning begins with the Panhandle Pancake Feed at the Eagles from 6:30 – 8:30 and at 8 a.m. the annual Farmer’s Day Fun Run begins at 2nd and Webster. Also beginning at 8 a.m. is the Dignitary coffee at the Kimball Banner County Chamber of Commerce.

Dignitaries for this year are Linda McGinnis – Outstanding Homemaker, Snyder Organic Farms – Outstanding Farmer and Kendall and Beverley Atkins – Grand Marshals. See more about this year’s dignitaries in a separate piece in this edition.

Those dignitaries will be recognized at 9:30 at 2nd and Chestnut Streets and the parade begins at 10 with winners announced around 11:30 followed by a dunk tank and pie-in-the-face game at the same intersection.

Back by popular demand is the Farmer’s Day bed races, held at 11:30 at the intersection of 2nd and Webster. Teams are invited to bring their own beds, but the host, local Lion’s Club, hopes to also have a few beds available.

The rules are simple: all beds must have four wheels that stay in contact with the ground at all times; each team must have four teammates – one rider and three pushers; push bars and handles are allowed, but must not exceed 24 inches from the frame and the beds must be pushed – not pulled.

Two beds will be run at once, the route is approximately one city block and the fastest time will determine the winners.

Family friendly themes are encouraged, and a prize will be awarded to the best bed costume and design. All funds raised will be paid out in prize money! To register, contact Keith Prunty at 308-241-2473 or any Lion’s Club member.

The book sale will continue from 11 – 3 and the local Kiwanis club will host a craft fair during that same time at the Kimball Health Services North Campus, in the building that was formerly West Elementary.

Free hamburgers will be served from 11:30 – 3 at 2nd and Webster and children’s games will continue through 3 p.m. at 2nd and Chestnut Streets.

Following lunch, at 1 p.m., the Plains Historical Society will draw from the gun raffle at the downtown museum and the horseshoe tournament will begin at Gotte Park.

At 3 p.m. celebrants are invited to watch the smashing and crashing at the Demolition Derby held at the Kimball Banner County Fairgrounds.

The Lion’s Club will host the inaugural Farmer’s Day Glow Disc Frisbee Tournament at Gotte Park beginning at 5:30 p.m. Currently there are nearly a dozen teams of two signed up and the hosts hope to have 30 teams prior to Saturday. To that end the Lion’s Club has extended the registration deadline through tonight, Thursday, Sept. 27. To register, contact Keith Prunty at 308-241-2473 or any Lion’s Club member.

Again Saturday night the Stahla Ford Band will entertain at Beer and Loathing beginning at 8 p.m.

For those horseshoe enthusiasts, there will be a second tournament at Gotte Park on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Hannah Snyder is planning a co-ed mud volleyball tournament at the intersection of 2nd and Oak Streets to begin on Sunday, Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. There is a 24 team limit and each team must be comprised of at least three boys and three girls no younger than 15 years of age. For more information, contact Snyder at 308-672-9724.

Event organizer Rick Kirby is thrilled at announce the the Kamikazee club will once again host their Remote Control Airplane Fun Fly at 10 on Sunday morning at the Kimball Airport.

Pilots are expected from Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska for this event. There will be no contest, no entry fees, no prizes, but a lot of fun. Pilots check in at 8 a.m., take to the sky at 10 and pilots will get a free lunch at noon.

This exciting event is free to the public, who are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and enthusiasm. For more information, contact Rick Kirby at 308-336-5801, 308-235-3338 or by email at [email protected].