Friday Night Lights I: a terrific start for Jaguar football (VIDEOS**)

This blog post won't be fully updated until later in the day on Saturday. The past week has been quite the stretch with plenty of excitement along the way! A few game stats were added late Saturday morning. Two additional videos were added on Saturday night.

To start off the new season for the B-B-E Jaguars football team, one of the overarching goals of the night was to finish the game without major dings or injuries. It's great to say that coaches can make that checkmark on the list of accomplished goals. Beyond that, the Jaguars can soak up a satisfying 38-20 win over Bagley as they get ready to prepare for the start of Mid-State District play.

Here's a postgame interview recorded next to the high school with head coach Chris Moscho (added Saturday night):


At halftime, the Jaguars built a 30-0 lead after they led 22-0 through the first quarter. The Jaguars punched in two touchdowns in the game's first five minutes of play. Late in the half, with 26 seconds on the clock, Brett DeRoo caught a 22-yard reception from Luke Illies for a touchdown. Hunter Laage ran in the two-point conversion to make it 30-0.

Here's a video from the first quarter of tonight's game:


Here's a video featuring action in the final minute of the second quarter:


To start the third quarter, the Jaguars put together a 65-yard drive that utilized 8 plays to get into the end zone. Jack Lundberg's two-yard plunge with 9:30 left plus Laage's 2-point conversion run gave the Jaguars a 38-0 lead with 9:30 on the clock.

*Here's a video featuring that final touchdown scored by the Jaguars...


The Flyers found life as the third quarter wore on and B-B-E began to sub down to second and third-string players. One bystander told me they only had 24 players to work with. B-B-E's roster is not overly deep, but it's solid for Class 1A standards with 34 players in grades 9-12. The 15 seniors played central roles in the game, but I was impressed by seeing numerous freshman and juniors also gaining significant playing time. This is important to spread the workload and help minimize the chances of injuries.

NEXT: the Jaguars will host a very tough West Central Area Knights team next Friday, September 6 for the district opener. The Knights are also 1-0 after they beat Polk County West 38-12 last night at Climax high school.

Game statistics summary...
Through the air, the Jaguars were 10-for-22 for 141 yards and three touchdowns. Luke Illies connected with his receivers for 9 catches on 20 pass attempts. Aiden Mueller was 1-for-2 with the reception good for 31 yards. Junior Kameron Hiltner was the leading receiver with three catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns.

Jack Lundberg led the ground game with 138 yards on 18 carries, and Brett DeRoo had 6 carries for 62 yards.

Earning fumble recoveries were Carson Glienke, Carson Savage and Noah Kampsen. Brett DeRoo had one interception, and Harley Weber had two quarterback sacks. Ethan Mueller led the defense with 10 solo tackles and four assists.

Area football scores in Week One on August 30:
Hancock 52, Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal 0
BOLD 56, Windom Area 14
Upsala/Swanville Area 41, Pine River-Backus 6
Rockford Area 19, Royalton 6
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 54, Red Lake 0
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 38, Wadena-Deer Creek 7
Paynesville Area 46, Montevideo 21

Area football scores in Week One on August 29:
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 46, Minnewaska Area 27 Holdingford 42, Sauk Centre 8
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 30, Maple Lake 6
Albany 14, New London-Spicer 7

Jaguars sweep Wolverines! Tennis, football yet to come (UPDATES!)

The B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team swept MACCRAY today to improve to 3-0 on the season. Game scores were 25-19, 25-22, 25-23. It was the first of three varsity events at the high school campus. As a team, the Jaguars had a 19 percent hitting mark and were led by 17 kills by junior Kacey Fischer. The Wolverines went 21-11 overall last year and have two of the area's top hitters (Emma Thein and Brielle Janssen). Janssen was also an All-State pick last year. They fall to 2-1 with the loss.

Here's a video featuring action in the middle of game three today against MACCRAY:


The B-B-E Jaguars girls' tennis team is hosting Sauk Centre with JV and varsity action (varsity first) starting at 4:30 p.m.

Finally, the B-B-E Jaguars football team begins their season with a home game at 7 p.m. against Bagley. Their game will be aired on Smooth Magic 107 FM of Glenwood (107.1) and streamed online: https://www.kmgk1071.com.

Varsity football updates...
In the first quarter, the Jaguars racked up a 14-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game. They expanded that lead to 22-0 before the second quarter. Late in the second quarter, after Bagley had shown some life on offense, they punched in a fourth touchdown and added a two-point conversion (the third of the game) for a 30-0 lead. That final score came in the final minute.

So for the record! Halftime: B-B-E 30, Bagley 0. I'll get more up later tonight! Time to get back in the stadium...and get our quiet crowd revved up. They were completely and utterly dead in the first half, which is unacceptable!

Jaguars win key subsection battle in four (VIDEOS)

The varsity match had its moments, and the visitors came to play, but in the end the B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team had too much firepower in a thrilling game four as they dispatched Parkers Prairie for a 2-0 start to the season.

Here's a short video from the middle of game one tonight:


Games two, three and four were a battle with Parkers Prairie winning game two by a 25-21 score. The Jaguars played uphill throughout the entire set but showed resilience after trailing 17-10. At that point out of a Coach Borgerding timeout, the Jaguars rattled off an 8-0 run to gain an 18-17 lead on a kill by Adley Hagen. The Panthers then reeled off a 5-0 run, and the Jaguars struggled offensively down the stretch.

In an important game three, the Jaguars were strong early with a 4-0 and 5-0 scoring runs that put them ahead 10-5. The Panthers later cut it down to 16-15 before Kacey Fischer and Hagen had back-to-back kills. Hagen's ace serve later made it 22-17 while the Jaguars took a 2-1 set lead with a 25-18 win.

The Jaguars pulled themselves out of early 5-1 and 9-5 deficits and had to rally multiple times while the Panthers took a 15-9 lead on an ace serve. After they fell back 17-13, the Jaguars reeled off a 6-0 run and never trailed from there in a match-clinching 25-23 win.

Here's a longer video featuring the final points scored in game three tonight:


The Jaguars had a powerful attack with a trio of hitters in double figures for kills: Adley Hagen (13), Kacey Fischer (12) and Kamie Fischer (11). Ava Deters had 12 digs, and Kylie Weller supplied 21 set assists.

No rest for the weary! They have almost no turnaround time as they need a good night's rest and then resume action tomorrow (Friday) with a 3 p.m. non-conference match with MACCRAY in Belgrade. The volleyball action tomorrow is part of home Friday action that includes tennis (4:30 p.m.) and then football (7 p.m.) all at the high school athletic complex.

The Wolverines are also off to a 2-0 start. They swept Montevideo one week ago (August 22) in Clara City and then won 3-1 at Adrian high school against Adrian/Ellsworth on Tuesday this week. MACCRAY and B-B-E have developed a strong rivalry that has lasted well over 20 seasons. The earliest I can recall the teams facing one another is in the 2002 Section 6AA championship, which the Wolverines won by a 3-1 score in B-B-E's first-ever section final appearance.

Area volleyball scores on August 29:
Sauk Centre 3, West Central Area 0
Bertha-Hewitt 3, Battle Lake 2
Melrose Area 3, Benson 0
Holdingford 3, Ogilvie 0
Paynesville Area 3, Dassel-Cokato 2
Breckenridge 3, Wheaton/Herman-Norcross 0
Barnesville 3, Henning 1
BOLD 3, Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 1
Minnewaska Area 3, Montevideo 0

Second volleyball match of the week (SPORTS SHOW)

We have home cooking for the B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team for the second night in three days. The Jaguars host Parkers Prairie tonight in a game of teams that both won their respective openers. The Panthers, a fellow Sub-Section 6A-South team, defeated Verndale 3-1 on Monday night to start their season. They are coming off of a 24-6 season last year and have big aspirations for 2024. We'll see how tonight goes! I expect a very tough match.

My first sports show of the season is uploading now. I recorded it on Tuesday night, but then I had technical difficulties with the MPG file! Dang it! I recovered it and have it fixed and ready for viewing once it's ready on YouTube.

And finally...here's that sports show video...


I was running out of battery right after I hit record, and I had to end the whole thing early and clip off the end part when the battery died. The GOOD news is that the newspaper stayed on track, and it has ample coverage across three of our four fall varsity sports.

Varsity match updates against Parkers Prairie...
I'm finally wrapped up from the Brooten Farmers Market, so now it's time to shift gears to volleyball!

Game one: BBE 25, Parkers Prairie 14.  

Game two: Parkers 25, BBE 21.

Jaguars sweep in season opener (VIDEOS)

The season opener was successful for the seventh straight year for the B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team as they picked up a 25-18, 25-23, 25-22 win against returning state entrant Pine River-Backus last night on the home court. The match had the makings of going into a fourth set after the Tigers forged a 13-6 lead in game three. The Jaguars battled back to take it in three while PR-B fell to 2-3 overall.

The Jaguars hit at a 21 percent clip as a team and were led by 12 kills from junior Kacey Fischer.

Next: the Jaguars host Parkers Prairie tomorrow (Thursday) at 7 p.m. at the elementary school. The Panthers are coming off of a 24-6 season and return five starters. Parkers Prairie's coaching staff is implementing a new 5-1 offense, and 14th-year head coach Amy Revering has stated in the media that they have designs on earning both conference and playoff hardware this season. I expect them to be a very, very tough opponent.

Here's a video featuring the final points scored in game one:


Here's a post-match interview with junior Kenna Lieser:


More to come. I am partically tied up researching cell phone policies for area schools. I am thrilled that B-B-E is taking a more refined and more restrictive approach to student cell phone usage during school hours. Tonight, I've been reading in the Echo Press newspaper of Alexandria about Osakis drilling down on a fairly air-tight cell phone usage ban for 7th to 9th graders that begins on September 3. For 10th-12th graders at Osakis, cell phone usage will be limited to passing time and lunch time plus in classrooms at the discretion of teachers. This fairly closely mirrors what B-B-E has in place for the 2024-2025 school year (cell use ban through 8th grade and then less restrictive for 9th-12th graders).

Area volleyball scores on August 27:
Montevideo 3, Benson 2 (Thunderhawks win game five 16-14)
Paynesville 3, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 1
Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 3, Central MN Christian 2 (Mustangs win game five 15-13)
Red Rock Central 3, Renville County West 1
MACCRAY 3, Adrian/Ellsworth 1
Willmar 3, Fergus Falls 0
Sauk Centre 3, BOLD 0

Volleyball season opener is here! (VIDEOS)

The seventh head coach in B-B-E volleyball history, Brittany Borgerding, and her Jaguars are set to host the season opener tonight! Pine River-Backus, a long-time playoff opponent back when B-B-E was in Section 5A, is in town to kick off the 2024 season. Last season, the PR-B Tigers went 22-11 overall and won the Section 5A title with a state tournament trip.

Tonight's match will be aired on Smooth Magic 107 FM of Glenwood. Online at https://www.kmgk1071.com. The varsity match should get underway at about 7:15 p.m. depending on how long the JV match lasts. The JV match started shortly after 6 p.m.

Pine River-Backus has already started their season, as they went 2-2 last Friday in a tournament at Rush City. They earned a 2-1 win against Class 3A Rock Ridge and a 2-0 win over Class 3A Chisago Lakes Area. I expect tonight's varsity match to be tough from start to finish!

Here's a throwback to September 26, 2011, when Coach Borgerding was a junior at B-B-E; she is shown singing the National Anthem when the Jaguars hosted MACCRAY:


And here it is...my long-awaited video interview with Coach Borgerding! She is a 2013 B-B-E graduate and was a key hitter as a sophomore on the 2010 state tournament team. From 2020 through 2023, she was a C-squad coach with the Jaguars.

Recorded earlier tonight just before the JV match started...


More to come. Video is uploading!

Varsity updates...
In game one, the Jaguars launched out to a quick 5-0 lead. The Tigers came back to lead 16-15. They won game one 25-18.

Here's a video featuring action early in game one tonight:


In game two, the Tigers led 3-0 early before the teams fought through ties at 10-10 and 12-12. An ace serve by Kylie Weller put the Jaguars up 17-13. PR-B remained within striking distance down the stretch before a kill by Kadynce Haider gave the Jaguars a 25-23 win.

B-B-E completed a 3-0 sweep with a hard-fought come-from-behind 25-22 win.

Next: the Jaguars host Parkers Prairie in a big Sub-Section 6A-South contest on Thursday this week. The Panthers had an outstanding season last year with a 24-6 overall record and a Little Eight Conference co-championship with Underwood. In the subsection playoffs, West Central Area ended Parkers Prairie's season in the semifinals. Last night at Verndale, Parkers Prairie won their season opener by a 3-1 margin over the Pirates, who were a Sub-Section 5A-West finalist last year.

Tennis battles hard in loss to Benson/K-M-S (VIDEOS)

In a border battle against Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg on Friday, the B-B-E Jaguars girls' tennis team had many bright spots throughout the match in a 5-2 loss. The Jaguars, now 1-2 overall, earned wins at No. 2 singles (Izzy Graham) and No. 2 doubles (Skylar Knight-DeWeerd and Arlee Tensen).

Here's action at No. 2 singles on Friday morning:


Next: the Jaguars travel to Osakis on Tuesday next week for a Prairie Conference match. It will also be the second day of school, so the team will miss the afternoon classes with the match starting at 2 p.m.

The next week is big for Jaguar Country! The remaining three varsity sports get their seasons underway. The volleyball opener is Tuesday at home, the football opener is Friday at home, and the boys' cross country opener is in Maple Lake on Friday.

Here's a video from the end of football practice on Friday:


Big events are coming locally with the Pope County Farm Bureau Breakfast on the Farm plus the Sunburg Trolls Classic Car and Truck show (in Sunburg). Both events take place on Labor Day. The Breakfast on the Farm event will be held at the Anderson Farm roughly one mile west of Belgrade on County Road 19. Look for additional Breakfast on the Farm coverage ahead of that day in the August 29 issue of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper.

**Click here...on the following link...to see a Breakfast on the Farm article on the Bonanza Valley Voice website: https://shorturl.at/zKEYN.

I finally have the majority (99% or more) of my Belgrade August Fest pictures uploaded to the newspaper's SmugMug online gallery. You can see those August Fest picture folders and more by clicking here: https://bonanzavalley.smugmug.com/2024-B-B-EBonanza-Valley-area-events. At my latest count, I have 627 pictures from the three days of Belgrade's August Fest.

Tennis rained out, volleyball season is previewed! (VIDEO)

While the story didn't get as lengthy or detail-oriented as I would have liked, the season preview has hit the presses for the B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team, who is led by first-year head coach Brittany Borgerding.

The season preview article was published in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper. It included pictures of the four team captains and also Coach Borgerding.

In tennis news...today's varsity action at Melrose was rained out. This sucks!! The weather straightened out later in the afternoon, but it was too shaky to send teams to Melrose at mid-day. This week's newspaper features a light article that you will want to read about how the team welcomed its newest member to her first day of practice. It's something everyone needs to read! That is how you welcome new players to an athletic program. You treat them like celebrities! Because if you are not welcoming new players to your teams, your programs will die. That's just a fact in a small school.

In case you missed it!
You can watch the full worship in the park that took place in Brooten on Sunday...click over to the newspaper's website and check out the wonderful music that was played for the hour-long service: https://shorturl.at/Sqwpd.

Softener salt sales are underway

The football team's softener salt sales drive is underway.

A variety of softener salt is available: Crystals (blue bag), Pellets (yellow bag) and Rust Defense (green bags). If you'd like to order, contact your favorite football player or call Coach Moscho at 320-254-8211 ext. 1148 and leave a message. The best part: softener salt can be delivered by members of the team!

Home cooking for tennis! (VIDEOS)

The B-B-E Jaguars girls' tennis team hosts Pierz today in a non-conference match. The action begins at 4 p.m., when they put their 1-0 record on the line against the traditionally-strong Pioneers, who play in the Granite Ridge Conference.

The Jaguars travel to Melrose on Thursday this week.

Here's a video from Long Prairie on Friday:


Here's a video from yesterday at the Brooten city park:


They had a wonderful turnout of about 120 people for worship! The churches of Big Grove/Crow River/Grace Lutheran and West Lake Johanna and Trinity Lutheran of Brooten hosted the event.

Jaguar tennis wins opener

The B-B-E Jaguars girls' tennis team won their season opener against Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Upsala-Swanville Area on Friday morning. I'm still compiling all the details of the win, but the team score was 6-1. The Jaguars swept the doubles matches and earned wins at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 singles.

The triangular ended prematurely, however, as heavy rain came up on LP-GE high school about 20 minutes after the match between B-B-E and Staples-Motley started. Coaches decided to move into a rain delay, but just as it appeared the rain was subsiding, the rain picked up and soaked the courts. Soon after that, the Jaguars were at Long Prairie's Subway getting lunch as the rain continued. I didn't see what Brooten got for rain.

It was an odd morning with a light rain and mist coming down off and on during the drive to Long Prairie and during the match. Helping out was the fact that the courts were dry to begin with, as Long Prairie had not received rain earlier in the morning. It was frustrating to see the rain stop the action, as the forecast said "Cloudy and 15 percent chance of rain"! Dang it!

Next: the Jaguars host Pierz on Monday in a non-conference match. For the JV Jaguars, they travel to Pierz for their first competition of the season. Also exciting is that the JV team will pick up at least two additional players on Tuesday. (Hopefully four!) Hope still remains that the total roster will expand to 20 or more players. Fingers crossed.

This has been quite the week

Everything in a nut shell right now...

Unofficially, the B-B-E Jaguars football team has a 9th-12th roster of 34 guys this fall. This number sounds low, but it's a very good number considering the team graduated 12 seniors off of last year's record-setting 11-1 state semifinalist squad. The current 9th grade class has a decent turnout and good talent. The 10th grade is where the program really thins out, however, making the season fall squarely on the shoulders of the Class of 2024 and 2025 football players. As of last count, they have 10 seniors and 12 juniors. I'm only aware of one sophomore (quarterback Aiden Mueller). This means there are roughly 11 freshmen on the team. Due to the crazy nature of this week, I have been unable to catch up with Coach Moscho. I plan to do that next week.

The football opener is on Friday, August 30 at home against Bagley.

What has led me to totally re-arrange my Thursday and Friday this week revolves around the tennis program...this year's B-B-E Jaguars girls' tennis team is working hard to overcome the need to fill three open starting varsity positions. The varsity squad opens the season tomorrow at Long Prairie starting at 9 a.m. At the conclusion of the team's practice this morning, I learned that my 8th grade daughter was named as one of the 10 varsity starters (for tomorrow's action). This is news we were not expecting. It is great news - of course! I had not planned on making the trip to Long Prairie, but now that road trip is a "go" with wheels up at 8 a.m. sharp!

The tennis team continues recruiting to expand its overall roster. One exciting part to the team is that they have five seniors, which you can read about in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper. They are currently hoping for two additional athletes to join next week, which would bump turnout to 19 or 20. Fingers crossed!

That's all I've got for tonight. I have to get to updating the Bonanza Valley Voice website: http://www.bonanzavalleyvoice.com.

B-B-E's Fall Sports preseason begins!

While it's still "full bore" summer outside, today marks the first day of preseason practices for the fall sports of the B-B-E Jaguars in football, cross country, girls' tennis and volleyball.

Amateur baseball playoff update...
In Region 15C action yesterday, Farming defeated the Cold Spring Rockies 6-5 to clinch the No. 2 seed to the state tournament. The Flames had an incredible weekend that included a 5-4 win over St. Martin on Saturday afternoon. They followed that with an 8-4 win over Richmond earlier yesterday.

Watkins, who hosted the tournament, won the region title and has a first-round bye in Class C's 48-team state tournament field. The third seed went to Cold Spring, and the No. 4 seed was Richmond. Farming opens "state" in Green Isle on Saturday, August 17 at 11 a.m. against Maple Lake. Richmond opens state that same day in Green Isle at 6:30 p.m.

Incredible day for Day III of the Belgrade August Fest (VIDEOS)

With absolutely incredible weather with full sunshine, very little wind and temperatures in the low 70s today, the Belgrade August Fest is on Day III with a marvelous set of activities underway on Saturday. The Walk-Run was held at the high school and sponsored by the B-B-E Music Boosters. Other activities took place on main street and the nearby area. The August Fest kids pedal pull drew a terrific level of interest. The Car and Truck show had a nice collection on display on the north end of main street.

Here's the finish line of the August Fest Walk/Run event:


B-B-E track and field head coach Trish Thieschafer (B-B-E Class of 1996) was in the trio of adults shown in that video. The Walk/Run event was set up on the west side of the high school.

Here's a video featuring action in downtown Belgrade:


Tonight is a BIG TIME street dance in Belgrade featuring the Mason Dixon Band playing from 8 p.m. to around midnight. Additional coverage is posted to the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website: https://shorturl.at/eW1lY.

Remember the community worship and meal on Sunday! That starts at 11 a.m. with worship and a pulled pork sandwich meal to follow at noon. Everyone is invited!

Sunday update...Farming and Richmond are playing for state tournament seeding at Watkins today. First pitch was at 11 a.m. The Royals beat Pearl Lake 6-5 yesterday, while the Flames beat St. Martin 5-4 earlier in the afternoon. Crazy! Back-to-back one run games in the region tournament.

Belgrade's August Fest is a go (VIDEO)

The Belgrade August Fest has been heavily publicized in the past three issues of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper (July 25, August 1, August 8)...and it all begins tonight!

You can see more here, and also, of course, in the printed newspaper. Link: https://shorturl.at/yW54E.

Speaking of the newspaper's website...the current B-B-E/Bonanza Valley area community calendar has a long, long list of upcoming activities. You can check that out by clicking here: https://shorturl.at/Txfzm.

Here's a throwback video to August Fest 2022...


The luncheon was at Grace Lutheran church on the afternoon of August 13, 2022.

Soon I will be heading to Willmar to the Kandiyohi County Fair for the afternoon. Tonight is the big Belgrade Firemen's Chicken BBQ supper! Please come out and show your support! (4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the V.F.W.)

Saturday update...
Here's a link to watch a video from earlier this morning at Belgrade: https://shorturl.at/7ECVw. Everything has been tremendous!!!

Saints bow out of Region 15C tournament

The Farming Flames came up big in the top of the sixth inning when they plated three runs on a successful suicide squeeze attempt today against the Elrosa Saints. The two amateur baseball teams were vying in an elimination game of the Region 15C tournament at Watkins. The three runs erased a 2-1 Elrosa lead, and the 4-2 lead held up as the Saints saw their season come to a close.

The Saints out-hit the Flames by a wide 11 to 4 margin, but three errors plus 11 stranded baserunners ultimately led to their demise. Payton VanBeck pitched an incredible complete game with 16 strikeouts. I'll update this blog post after I receive the official box score.

Elrosa finishes the season 14-9 overall with a youth-filled lineup. They won the Elite 8 tournament title for the third straight year as well as the Stearns County League North playoff title.

The county fairs for Pope County and Stearns County both conclude today. I've got two videos from Friday at the Stearns County Fair posted at the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website: https://shorturl.at/ZV0c7.

Sunday night update...
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Terrace this morning to take in the Chippewa Falls Lutheran church's 150th anniversary worship service. I am getting my 1.54 gigabyte video uploaded tonight from the service. The organizers did a really fantastic job. I am proud of all our area churches! Look for extended coverage of their 150th anniversary worship in the August 8 and possibly August 15 issues of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper.

It looks like we are set to get another big shot of rain across the next 24 hours. Crazy! This is not a typical time of the year to receive ample rainfall. I know my garden is not complaining about it.

Saints suffer tough loss to open regions

A few county fair updates were posted at the end of this blog post on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team fell into the elimination bracket of the Region 15C tournament tonight with a tough-luck 10-8 loss to Pearl Lake. They trailed 10-4 before scoring four unanswered runs to make for an interesting final stretch. Two stranded runners in the bottom of the ninth inning was the outcome of their final at bat, however, as they now play to stay alive with an 11 a.m. game on Sunday back in Watkins. (Sunday, August 4).

The county fair activity in Sauk Centre and Glenwood is currently at its peak! I spent about three hours this afternoon at the Stearns County Fair in Sauk Centre, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The mercury raced to nearly 90 degrees this afternoon. It was HOT! Officially, the high temperature today in Brooten was 88 degrees. We are blessed with tremendous county fairs in central Minnesota. This is something we should all be VERY proud about! REMEMBER: three county fairs are advertised in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper! I hope you have a copy to read for yourself!

Additional updates to this blog post will be added on Saturday morning.

Saturday night updates...
The Elrosa Saints will play either St. Martin or Spring Hill in a Region 15C elimination game on Sunday, August 4 in Watkins starting at 11 a.m. The Region 15C opener for St. Martin and Spring Hill took place at 3:30 p.m. today. Results are not yet available but will be posted here later tonight. Elrosa faces the loser of that game.

Okay! So I got some bad info and did not check the brackets...the Saints will play Farming or Cold Spring on Sunday in the elimination game. I am struggling to find updated brackets and scores.

Finally! I found the correct Twitter page to get scores. In the second game last night (Friday), the Cold Spring Rockies defeated Farming 8-6 in a terrific ball game. The Farming Flames are who the Saints will play tomorrow in the elimination game. In the 6 p.m. game tonight, the Cold Spring Rockies faced Pearl Lake in the first state-qualifier of Region 15C.

The Watkins Clippers defeated Richmond in their region opener today. I do not have a final score on that.

The Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website has a web article (just a video) added today...you can see that by clicking here: https://shorturl.at/znd9V. Now it's time to head to the Pope County Fair for the second time of the day. My family and I will be taking in the Pope County Cattlemen's Association supper. It will be great! Later tonight, the Sedan/Terrace-based band Wasted Time will be the feature entertainment at the fair in Glenwood.

Here's Brady Nelson of Brooten at the end of his run through the tractor pull at the Pope County Fair on Saturday night:


Brady Nelson is a 2019 graduate of B-B-E high school. He was driving a John Deere "G" tractor that had a tremendous pull. I was recording the pull, and for a reason I can't explain, my camera stopped recording in the middle of it. I hit record again after his tractor had stopped. Unfortunately, I did not record when he "dug down" just after it appeared that the tractor was stopping roughly 30 yards short of a full pull. The file on my card was corrupted, so all I had was this little short clip at the end. It's weird how technology can fail you in ways you don't see coming!

On Sunday morning, I'll be in Terrace at Chippewa Falls Lutheran church for their 150th anniversary of the church's founding in Pope County.