The Radisson and district 97th annual fair was held Aug. 11 and 12 with two nice hot days for people to come out and enjoy the parade, musical jamboree, horse events, vintage tractor pull, pancake breakfast and ball tournament. There were two food booths, the Royal Purple ice cream sundae/cones booth and a beef on a bun meal in the jamboree tent.
The parade was led by the RCMP and flag-bearers Tell and Earl Kieper on horseback, followed by Mayor Walter Kyliuk, David Ruzesky pulling the kids' ride-on train and a number of bike riders, quads and walkers. Wally Schultz drove his garden tractor, pulling a cart for The Attic Trunk shop. There was the Radisson Library float, Zion Museum members in a vintage car and the Nutting Family on a flatbed, throwing out Mardi Gras necklaces.
There were decorated trucks for Cedar Signs, Radisson Co-op, Radisson Repair, Salon 23 and Holistic Heights. Kirk Maxwell drove his 88 Olds. There were 14 horseback riders, one team of horses and a pony and cart. Tractors were Daryl Amey and his International, Chris Shultz driving his JD 60, Duncan Stead with a JD "G", Les Wilkie with a JD 820 and Norm Heibert with a McCormick W6. The end of the parade had the fire truck with firefighters spraying water, followed by the rescue unit vehicle.
Winners of cash and ribbons were: for horses, family, first Barry and Mona Thiessen and boys, second Shay and Tanya Kieper and third Earl and Tell Kieper; teams, first Brad and Gaye Funk and their Percheron team, second Cassandra Lumgair and third Bailey Golding; Western, first Nancy Black with pony and cart, second Melissa Saunders, third Becky Cutting.
In the fancy bicycle category, Courtney Yaseniuk, MacKenna Donaldson and Hailey Harris won and Carter Johnson and Jordan Shaw won for comical. Original bicycle winners were Landon Beauchenmin, Axel Dibyk and Ward Johnson while in novelty it was Ebony Dibyk, Cooper Flath and Reeve Johnson. Walkers Justin Yaseniuk and Kraten Beaudoin won for originality.
In the jamboree tent, with Walter Kyliuk as emcee, playing Saturday, from Borden, Hafford, Radisson, Maymont, Saskatoon, etc., were Joan and Glenn Julseth, Mel Deagnon, Redberry Grass (the Derbawka family), Hamps and Co., Signet Wally, Norm and the Golden Acres, Leroy and Friends, Four of a Kind and Doug Bodie. On Sunday the Penner Family started the day, followed by The SumPets and Company, Gerald, Lonesome Steve, Ukrainian Connection, Hot Tamales, Cash Back, John Cherneski, Len Dumont and Company. The Wiebe Family closed off the performances.
Jamboree legacy plaques were awarded to musicians who were retiring from actively playing or singing. These went to Wilmer Hamp, Steve Puto, Cathy Flath, Paul Harach and Bill and Natalie Puto.
Food and refreshments were available in the tent throughout the two days and 50/50s were won each day.
The firefighters' dance Saturday evening in the arena had Joe Mama playing and there was a real good turnout. The pancake breakfast put on by Bill and Linda Hosegood was well attended Sunday morning.
The swimming pool was kept busy both days. There was a bouncy ride along with the train rides for the kids and Beeper the Clown entertained with animal balloons and a magic show.
The vintage tractor pull ran Sunday afternoon with quite a few entries. Winning cash for first and second in the different weight classes were: 4,000 lbs. - Logan Urick of Perdue first, Connor Rothenburger of Radisson second; 4,500 lbs. - first, Claire Weir of Perdue and second, Greg Flath of Grandora; 5,000 lbs. - first, Richard Mynberg of Payton and second, Claire Weir; 6,000 lbs. - first, Terry Box of Unity and second, Don and Simone Reinhart; 7,000 lbs. - first, Dick Arie of Lloydminister and second, Russell Schultz of Radisson; 10,000 lbs - first, Claire Weir of Perdue and second, Jim Attrux of Speers; 12,000 lbs, out of nine entries, first went to Nolan Loessin with a 820 JD. He gets his name on the Bernie Wilkie Memorial Trophy donated by the class of '79. Second went to Claire Weir of Perdue who drove a Massey 98.
In grains, Carter Amson placed first in canola and lentil sheaves, clover, brome grass and crested wheat grass, third in alfalfa sheaf, first in seed grains for spring wheat, oats, rye and durum and second in canola, flax and green field peas. He won the high point special for seed grains and high points for hay and grains. Shantel Amson placed first in barley, flax sheaves, alfalfa and in seed grains in barley, canola (Argentine), flax, mustard and green field peas and second in yellow peas, oat sheave and brome grass sheave. Other winners were Ian Hosegood, first in wheat sheaf and second in canola sheaf, and Codie, Bailey and Rayna Yaseniuk in best bale (first and second) and clover (second and third) and alfalfa (second). Harry Lerch won first in oat sheaf.
In needlework there were only nine entries in 60 classes and winners were Laura Reiter, Linda Hosegood (three), Loretta Flath (two), Baylie Yaseniuk, Bailey Bardon and Chris Donaldson with the Prairie Mobile Service special going to Linda Hosegood, second to Loretta Flath and a four-way tie for third place.
In the art open class, there were only 12 entries and winning the Radisson Co-op special was Lillian Hamilton with Louise Cochran second. In open photography, winning the Radisson Car Wash special was Darcy Yaseniuk and second was Debbie Hembery with Kelsie Fouhy third.
In 4-H activity it was all Yaseniuks from Hafford - Courtney, Kolten, Riley, Tyler, Rayna, Baylie and Justin, with Rayna winning the Susan Baker special. Riley was second and Baylie third.
In domestic products, the Bronsch special went to Linda Yuskiw with second to Laura Reiter and third to Darlene Kindt. The Borden Co-op bread special was won by Miriam Loessin and the Wenner's carrot cake special and Laurie Unruh machine bread special by Linda Yuskiw. The Bernice Buell chocolate cake special went to Darlene Kindt.
In canned goods, Bronsch Auctions high points went to Martha Lessing, with Loretta Flath second and Darlene Kindt and Kim Waterhouse tied for third.
There were 17 teams entered in the slo-pitch tournament and winners were: A side, Stott Family defeated Gonz Show; B side, Find the Hole won over Arnie's Angels; in C it was Beet Festival defeating Gertz; D was won by On Parole over Hosegood Family, E saw the Nutting family defeating the Wasted Wheaties; F was The Rake team beating Nate team; in G, Pitchers and Catchers defeated Glitter; and in H, Junk in the Trunk won over Walker Family.
