14th annual Butterfield Summer Sizzler held this past Friday, Saturday, Sunday
The 14th annual edition of the Butterfield Summer Sizzler at Voss Park and Butterfield Lake were the perfect background settings for savoring some summertime sizzle over the course of this past Friday, Saturday, and Sunday’s perfect weather weekend.
Throughout the celebration, there was plenty of activities in which children and adults could participate, lots of food to eat – and exciting events to watch.
The Sizzler originated from a day that was promoted as a “Day for the Community” by Barb Mathistad Warner and Mary and Steve Wright. That day included a Flea Market and an ice cream social that was hosted by the First Lutheran Church. From there it grew into today’s festival.
It was – and remains – as a fun time for families and people of all ages.
Since the majority of activities take place in-and-around Voss Park and nearby Butterfield Lake, the Voss Park Campground provided the perfect place to stay for the weekend.
Event sponsors include: Braaten Farms, Buhler Construction, Butterfield Community Club Auxiliary, Butterfield Foods, Butterfield Municipal Liquor Store, Casey’s General Stores, Crystal Valley Cooperative, Darfur Lounge, Dick Downs, Donald V. Larson Post #9607 – Butterfield, Eagles-St. James, Fleet & Farm Supply Inc., Gary and Etta Mather, Gene and Joyce Lenning, Haler Construction, Hall’s Across the Prairie, Hall and Carlson Performance Machining LLC, Hall Hydraulics and Machine – Mike Hall, Hall’s Welding Shop – Andy Hall and Jeremy Hall, Harder Agency, Heffele Construction, KNK Golf Carts, Lampert Lumber – Windom, LB Customs, Midway Farm Equipment, Miller Sellner Equipment, NAM Design, Nancy’s Beauty Shop, Noi’s Asian Delight Food, Olson Custom Cabinets, Olsen Truck Service Center, Peterson Pit Pumping LLC, Rich Haglund Seeds, Southwest MN K-Fence, T & K Transport, Tri-County Implement, Triumph State Bank-Butterfield, True Value – Butterfield, United Prairie Insurance Agency and Xcel Energy.
Below is a photo gallery of some the Friday, July 1 and Saturday, July 2 Sizzler events Additional activities, including a Bean Bag Tourney, was held at Buckshot’s in Butterfield on Sunday, July 3:
BLIND MAN GOLF CART Race winners – completing the course in 37 seconds – were Kirby Loewen, left, providing audible GPS for driver Josh Sturm, right.
EVERY DREAM OF a mother-in-law – telling her son-in-law where to go – uh – drive. Taking driving lessons from his mother-in-law. Renee Schroeder, left, is Ryan Fast, right.
COUSINS TACKLE THE Blind Man Golf Cart Race course together. Sonia Brugman, right, is at the wheel, with Shanoah Janzen, left, providing verbal instructions on where to take the cart through the route.
A HAY BALE is hit – and explodes – sending straw everywhere. The golf cart was piloted by a blindfolded Brad Mohlenbrock, right, whilevhis wife, Michelle Mohlenbrock, left, was his guide. A one-minute penalty was added to the time of every duo for every hay bale hit. Michelle was recognized as the Worst Navigator on the night. The Turtle Award – for the slowest time – was presented to Wiener and Chuckles, with Wiener named the Worst Driver.
IT WAS A lot of fun and laughts for Jackie Cornwell, driver, right, and her oral pathfinder, Val Ommodt, left.
DON RABE of South Dakota demonstrated his 70 horsepower, two-cylinder unlimited. He races the machine in the Outlaw Class.
KEEPING WATCH OVER every move of Ed Connell, Lawn Mower Race flagman, was this drone, piloted by Jacob Molitor.
THE SNAPPER COMET racing brigade makes the last curve in the final heat. Finishing first was Beau Melheim, left, followed by Dan Hall, second from left, Andy Hall, third from left and Brad Kincaid, back right.
COREY COWELL JR. riding “Bucky,” took the Super Stock feature race, nipping Colin Harbitz, the two battling right down to the finish line. The winner in the Stock Division was Veronica Junker.
THE THREE FINISHERS in the Modified Claff. Receiving the checkered flag first was Beau Melheim, right, followed by Mike Hall, center and Brad Kincaid, left.
KIDS DASH OFF from the starting line for their own fun one-half-mile color fun early Saturday morning. (Jill Saunders photo)
A BLAST OF colors lofting skyward preceded the Sizzler’s Chicken Color Fun Run/Walk. (Jill Saunders photo)
MEETING THE BUTTERFIELD Chicken himself, right, is Ellie Holst, left. (Jill Saunders photo)
ROSELYN MIELKE IS proud of her catch – a bullhead. Back, holding the fishing rod, is her dad, John Mielke.
MADELYN HUMBURG HAD lots of practice casting her line into the waters of Butterfield Lake.
GRANDPA CHUCK WOLLE, left, checks the bait on the line of his grandson, John Wolle-Boyd, right.
THE PERFECT LOCATION along the shores of Butterfield Lake from which to fish. This was Kenna Palm’s private fishing spot.
BOB KEECH, LEFT, weighs in Aidan Olson’s bullhead. Aidan is at right, backed by his dad, Nate Olson, center – celebrating Independence Day’s red-white-and-blue color scheme a couple of days early. Medals were presented in three age categories. In the 0-5-years-old group: 1 – Maxwell Marken, .46; 2 – Waylon Winters, Jackson Hanson and Kayleigh Steinbrink, .37 and 3 – Veyda Haler and Adeligh Olson, .35. Top three in ages 6-10 were: 1 – Madison Wolle, .48; 2 – Tucker Braaten, .44 and 3 – Jacob Meidl, Wyatt Haler and Jasmine Gordon, .39. The final age category was ages 11-15. Those place winners were: 1 – Sabrina Hanson, MacKenna Steinbrink and Harlan Munning, .39; 2 – Bailey French and Jordan Linscheid, .33 and 3 – Damian King and Brice Anacker, .28.
SALUTING THE MINNESOTA military service members who made the ultimate sacrifice during the line of duty during Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. The display was sponsored by Beyond the Yellow Ribbon of Watonwan County.
ADDYSON HALL WAS all smiles as she powered her way to a second-place spot in the Four-Year-Old Division of D & S Pullers’ Kids Pedal Tractor Pull with a pull of 18′ 4.”
WAYLON WINTERS DOMINATED the Five-Year-Old Division with a full pull.
TUCKER BRAATEN PULLED 31′ 3″ in the Six-Year-Old Division.
BELLA ANACKER’S TONGUE received an assist for her 32′ 9″ pull in the Seven-Year-Old Division.
LILY YOUNGWIRTH HALF grimaced/half smiled during her time in the driver’s seat of the tractor – versus – the sled in the Eight-Year-Old Division.
THE POWERFUL EFFORT Caleb Fast put into his pull is written all over his face. Caleb was the champ in the Eight-Year-Old Division. Kids Pedal Tractor Pullers included a Three-Year-Old “Just for Fun” Division, along with competition for each age level from four-years-old to 11-years-old. The top three in each division had the option to register for the State Kids Tractor Pull in September.
THE PIONEER VILLAGE’S Chicago & Northwestern switch engine and passenger train cars were put into service to give riders a trip along the Voss Park route.
CHERYL HIEBERT CHECKS out the tea towels on display at one of the booths in the Flea Market under the Voss Park trees.
THE BERGEMANN FAMILY of New Ulm provided polka music for all those attending the Butterfield Summer Sizzler. The instruments, from left – flute to accordion to wash-tub one-stringed bass.
KIDS EAGERLY SEARCHING for that needle – uh, medallion – in the haystack. (Jill Saunders photo)
WATCHING THE TRACTOR Pull – safely from behind the cement barricade and chain link fence. On the track was Brian Anderson with an exhibition pull of an Oliver AG6 Cletac Crawler.
MARTY SCHOTT SHOWED the power of his 1950 Farmall M in the 4500 Class.
IN ANOTHER EXHIBITION pull, Luke Kruger took his alcohol-burning Minneapolis Moline G1000 to the test on the track – competing against the Iron Bull sled.
PICK-UPS PULLED TOO. Spinning up the packed dirt with his tires is Aaron Hanson in his 1979 Chevrolet K30.
FIREWORKS OVER BUTTERFIELD Lake was a colorful conclusion to a packed Sizzler Saturday. (Jill Saunders photo)
