The 38th annual Forest City Threshers Show is this weekend – Saturday and Sunday – from 8-to-5 each day. Admission is just $5 for adults and free for children 12 and under to the show which is located about 5 miles northeast of Litchfield on Highway 24.
Dave Jutz says Oliver is the featured equipment this year so many members of the Northland Power Club will be displaying their equipment. He says the new Carlson Building will be open this year and it will contain memorabilia of the featured equipment, which will be parked nearby.
Jutz says there’s a tractor parade each day, a tractor pull following Saturday’s parade and then garden and antique tractor pulls after Sunday’s parade, and a kid’s pedal pull Sunday at 10:30 a.m. He says the Ladies Activity Building will have more items this year, and there’s a breakfast each day from 7:30-to-9:30, a roast beef dinner each day from 11-to-2, along with taco, malt and hamburger stands and a beer garden.
Butch Schulte says the show will, of course, include threshing demonstrations and corn shelling. He says there’s a tobacco grower’s exhibit, an old crank telephone display, and much more. He says more items were added to the old train depot, including a desk that came from Corvuso.
Schulte says Craig Kimmerle will be playing the piano during the roast beef dinner and there will be other musical acts around the show grounds, and if anyone else is interested in performing, they are welcome. He says, as he’s done research, the only place that he knows of that sold Oliver equipment was Kvam Implement in Litchfield. You can find a complete schedule of events on the Forest City Threshers Facebook page.
The Litchfield School Board heard reports last night from the administrators of each building – Middle School, High School and Elementary School. Staff will be returning to school on August 25th and students will start returning to school the following week.
Middle School Principal Chelsea Brown spoke to the Board about a 4-day trip to Washington, D.C. from July 17th through the 20th which included 22 students and 16 parents. She also spoke about updates to the Middle School handbook, staff development and curriculum updates.
High School Principal Jason Michels spoke about building goals and AI training to promote academic integrity and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. He says graduation next year is planned for May 29th at 11 a.m.
Elementary Principal Chris Olson addressed matters in both the Lake Ripley and Wagner buildings and said that parents are required to come into the office if they are picking their children up from school. Carrie Larson also spoke to the Board about the German-American exchange program and a 3-week trip that 9 students took to Germany earlier this summer.
Superintendent Susan Burris spoke to the Litchfield School Board about the goals she’s developing for her third year in the District and her intention to negotiate a new 3-year contract with the Litchfield School District. She says the Raising Dragons Building Futures website is up to help address questions that people may have about the two ballot questions that will be coming up in November.
The Litchfield School Board approved of a trip to Washington, D.C. for the summer of 2028 through World Classrooms; and approved of the Legislature-required Language Access Plan. The Board was unable to agree on a personnel recommendation for Community Education Director Grant Solem to take on the role of Middle School Activities Director to replace Craig McKechney. A special meeting will be held on Monday morning to revisit the matter.
The Church of Our Lady in Manannah is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and many special events are planned at the church this weekend. There will be self-guided tours and displays starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, a mass with Bishop Chad Zielinski at 4 p.m., followed by a meal Saturday evening, and there will also be an open house on Sunday from 1-to-4 p.m.
Member Barb Laabs says the Church of Our Lady was officially established in 1876 with the church built in its present location in Section 31 of Manannah Township. She says the church was enlarged in 1900 and the high altar with its gold tabernacle – depicting the Last Supper – and columned niches with various statues were installed around 1915. Barb says the Church of Our Lady is well-known for the various community meals it hosts, and for Saturday’s dinner, the meal will be catered – and no RSVP is necessary.
Parishioner Sue Carlson says they plan to ring the church bell 150 times on Saturday in recognition of the special anniversary, and there is a painting of Our Mother of Perpetual Help that has been in the church since the 1800s and will return from being refurbished in the Twin Cities in time for the celebration. She says they will have self-guided tours and many items will be on display Saturday afternoon.
Carlson says there will be an open house at the Church of Our Lady on Sunday from 1-to-4 p.m. and they will have items on display at that time for people to see. She says the church is easy to find at the intersection of Meeker County State Aid Highways 3 and 30. There will be no mass at the Church of Our Lady this Sunday, August 16th as they will have the special mass at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The Songs of Summer Festival is coming up this Friday at Memorial Park in Litchfield. Gates will open at 4 p.m. and then the music will be from 5-to-11 p.m. with 3 bands performing.
Sarah Jones says Vintage Revival will perform from 5-to-6 p.m., South 40 will take the stage from 6:15 to 7:45, and then Shirts and Skins will perform from 8-to-11 p.m. She says between acts they will announce the winners of the cash raffle drawing and the recipients of this year’s scholarships which benefit non-profit, youth-related organizations. She says the event is free, but they accept freewill donations.
Jones says Red, White & Brews will be providing shuttle service from Lake Ripley Elementary School to Memorial Park. Troy Freidrichs says there will be several food and beverage vendors at the Songs of Summer Festival.
Tiana Freidrichs says they still have raffle tickets available and the top prize this year is $1,000. Tickets are available at Mid-Country Bank and if there are any left, they will be sold at the event. Freidrichs says the Songs of Summer Festival is a family-friendly event.
Freidrichs says they will fence off the splash pad and the playground at Memorial Park to make it secure for children on Friday evening. She says there are lots of great sponsors who help to make the Songs of Summer Festival possible. In case of inclement weather, there is a back-up plan and any changes will be announced on KLFD Radio.