A second family reunion was held for the Rowlands family July 29-30-31 and Aug. 1 at the farm yard of John and Arlene Rowlands of rural Battleford. The first reunion was held on the same days five years ago. Close to 80 friends and relatives attended coming from parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan and from Mississauga, Ont.Â
The main two days of activities took place on Saturday and Sunday. Each day started off with a pancake, sausage and bacon breakfast. Later in the day, a potluck supper was held with the family all donating the food for both days. There was lots of help with the cooking. Everyone pitched in to help out. There was a lot of food, no one left hungry.
Just before the Saturdays activities got going a nasty storm hit the area with high winds, heavy rain and hail. Most tents and other things were all set up, so there was some fast scrambling to get as much as they could covered up with some spare tarps they had on food. The wind did damage to the single umbrellas, with bent stands and the shelter tent set up for shade areas. The people that were able to save what they could from the storm were a lot of soaking wet people all in need of some dry clothing. The close ones went home for more dry clothes. It was a cloud burst that dumped close to two inches of rain and small hail in a matter of minutes. After the quick storm passed on, everyone got together to pick up the pieces and reset up the area.Â
A silent auction was held and each family made donations of various items. At the day’s end the articles went to the highest bidders. Funds from the silent auction went to pay for all the reunion expenses. There also was a raffle held. Many other fun things and games were set up for whoever wanted to take part.
Some families came to camp for the whole week end and brought their camper trailer homes.
Many photos were taken by different family members. Elaine Therauilt of Missassauga was taking photos, plus gathering up the latest family information in order to redo another family history book for the last 90 years. It will take some time to get all information needed gathered up. We are hoping that everyone will co-operate and give their family updates. The generations are passing by fast and we hate to miss it for the book. When our family began for the late Jack and Gertie Rowlands, there was a family of five children, four girls and one boy. Dorothy (Mills), Margaret (Parrish), Irene (Greer), Norma (Kowerchuk) and John.
A big thank you goes out to John and Arlene Rowlands for letting everyone come to their farm yard . Also thank you to Arlene and her daughter Deanna and Michelle Kowerchuk and all the other helpers that helped with all the week end activities. Hope everyone did enjoy the weekend. We would all like to see another more organized family reunion, but much sooner. Five years apart is much too long, as none of us are getting younger.
Visiting for a short stay was Stanley and Dorothy Mills' daughter Elaine Therauilt of Missassauga, Ont. She made a special stop to Battleford to attend the Rowlands family reunion. Elaine was on her way to Vancouver, B.C. to join up with 15 fellow peddle bikers who were leaving Vancouver on Aug. 1 to make a trip through the Rocky Mountains to Calgary. It will be a two-week trip. There has been so much nasty weather about and we just hope it will all work out well for the bikers. From there Elaine will fly home to Ontario.
The area has still been receiving some heavy rain showers and freaky looking clouds about. Some places are getting really heavy rain falls in a short time, while other places not so much. Some crops are not doing so well, while others are lush, lovely crops. Just as long as that big white combine does not pay a visit. Farmers are getting their harvesting equipment repaired and ready to go as the harvest is not too far off now for some early crops.
