Hay Days75th Anniversary of the First Hay Days

Commemorative EditionBrought to you by The Atkinson Graphic

Atkinson

This year’s parade theme was “75 Years of Hay Days”!

ATKINSON, HOLT COUNTY, NEBRASKA • THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2015

Hay Days Royalty 1940-20151940 – Queen - Delories Tesch

1941 – Queen - Evelyn Ziskareigned until 1946 because HayDays was discontinued duringthe war; Maid of Honor - AnneBarrett

1946 – Helen Peterson; Maidof Honor - Lorraine Siebert;Whisker King – Harley Everett

1947 – Queen – Lilah Smith;Whisker King – George Verzal

1948 – Queen – Betty Scripter;Whisker King – Thaine Humphrey

1949 – Queen – Beth Sloan;Princess – Marianne Tasler

King – Alex Frickel;Prince – Roy Mack

1950 – Queen - MargaretRohrs; Princess – Janet Judge

Whisker King – RobertClifford; Edward Albrecht

1951 – Queen – VivianLemmer; King – Gene Livingston(No Whiskers)

1952 – Queen - CathleenWeichman; Mr. Hay King –Lawrence Pacha (No Whiskers)

1953 – Queen – LodemaWefso; King – LaVern Morgan(No Whiskers)

1954 – Queen – FrancesGotschall

1955 – Queen - Leona Schmit;Princess – Mary Disterhaupt; Jr.Queen – Cindy Jones

1956 – Queen – Lorene Ziska;Princess – Irene Ann Jansen; HayDays Rodeo Queen – SharonMiner of O’Neill

1957 – Queen – Sandra Davis;Princesses – Artha Pacha andSharon Kokes

1958 – Queen – Clara Thurlow;Princess - Mary Ann Siebert

1959 – Queen – Elsie Karr;Princess – Margaret Ries

1960 – “A Day of Celebrationfor Children” was held – No HayDays

1961 – No Hay Days – Dr.McKee Celebration

1962 – No Hay Days

1963 – Queen – Carol Hansen;Princess – Shirley Skrdla

1964 – Queen – Micaela Lee;Princess – Joyce Gilbert

1965 – Queen – MichelleRzeszotarski; Princess – SharonWinings

1966 – Queen – Jean Mohr;Princess – Diana Enbody

1967 – Queen – Cindy Enbody;Princess – Kathy Dvorak

1968 – Queen – Mary AnnMlinar; Princess – Cyndie Jones

1969 – Queen - Sheila Ziska;Princess – Sandy Jansen

1970 – Queen – Judy Gant;Princess – Frances Mohr

1971 – Queen – Diana Juracek;Princess – Karen Bulau

1972 – Queen – Dian Kollman;Princess – Sheryl Schaaf

1973 – Queen – Bonny Ziska;Princess – Barb Wolcott

1974 – Miss Atkinson – MaryJo Krysl

1975 – Queen – Lori Shane

1976 – Miss Atkinson – BevSeger for 2 years

1978 – Queen - Bonnie Everett

1979 – Queen – Patti Seger;Princess – Diane Schaaf

1980 – Queen - Laurie Beach;Princess – Maureen Straka

1981 – Queen – PamRentschler; Princess – SandySeger

1982 – Queen – Nancy Tasler;Princess – Susan Krieger

1983 – Queen – SusanObermire; Princess – BeckyLieswald

1984 – Queen – Lisa Day;Princess – Deb Disterhaupt

1985 – Queen – SonyaKennedy

1986 – Queen – Linda Hamik;Princess – Jenny Shane

1987 – Queen – SandyLeMunyan; Princess – Jill Frerichs

1988 – Queen – Keri Judge;Princess – Makala Bilstein

1989 – Queen – Angie Mlinar;Princess – Kelly Doborvolny; King– Bill Alden; Prince – Rex Schrunk

1990 – Queen – JanelleWallinger; Princess – ErinKramer; King – Richard Schrunk;Prince – Kyle Pacha

1991 – Queen – Tracy Pacha;Princess – Tara Steskal; King –Jim Welsh; Prince – Jesse Friedel

1992 – Queen – Laura Kliment;Princess – Sarah Skrdla; King –Tim Schilz; Prince – KeithKerkman

1993 – Queen – JenniferAnson; Princess – Angie Ogden;King – Danny Boes; Prince – KellySmith

1994 – Queen – Jami Tasler;Princess – Tandra Steskal; King –Charley Osborne; Prince – JasonFunk

1995 – Queen – Amy Shane;Princess – Crystal Ogden; King –Josh Gossman; Prince – MarkRentschler

1996 – Queen – EmilyStahlecker; Princess – KamiSkrdla; King – Andy Osborne;Prince – Jesse Slaymaker

1997 – Queen – AmberKennedy; Princess – Nicky Tielke;King – Brad Jungman; Prince –Matt Kramer

1998 – Queen – RachelThompson; Princess – NicoleVogel; King – Kurt Schaaf; Prince– Dawson Dvorak

1999 – Queen – Ann Gotschall;Princess – Melissa Kohle; King –Jeremy Skrdla; Prince – JustinFarr

2000 – Queen – Kristi Tielke;Princess – Emily Gotschall; King –Chris Gentele; Prince – JacqueAnson

2001 – Queen – Kalli Asher;Princess – Becky Shane; King –Brent Jungman; Prince – AdamSkrdla

2002 – Queen – JenniferVogel; Princess – Sandi Tielke;King – Chris Skrdla; Prince –Jacob Meusch

2003 – Queen – Kim Vrooman;Princess – Meagan Winings; King– Jeremy Peterson; Prince –Jordan Barnes

2004 – Queen – Kylie Skrdla;Princess – Becci Osborne; King –Jason Seger; Prince – Paul Seger

2005 – Queen – BrittanyKennedy; Princess – KourtneyRahder; King – Kevin Vrooman;Prince – Kirk Peterson

2006 – Queen – Andrea Skrdla;Princess – Kylee Slaymaker; NoKing or Prince

2007 – Queen – Rachel Frickel;Princess – Meggie Miller; King –Parker Theisen; Prince – DavidBuller

2008 – Queen – Amelia Shane;Princess – Jamie Seger; King –Aaron Fritz; Prince – JosephOlson

2009 – Queen – MorganKennedy; Princess – KatherineDavis; King – Tyler Thurlow;Prince - Nicholas Schurnk

2010 – Queen – ChelseaThurlow; Princess – AmandaWenner; King – Hunter Pabian;Prince – Alex Lemburg

2011 – Queen – PaytonKennedy; Princess – JenniferPoessnecker; King – TannerOsborne; Prince – Matt Laetsch

2012 – Queen – MeganWenner; Princess – AutumnLemmer; King – Trey Rossman;Prince – Carl Meyer

2013 – Queen – Logan Judge;Princess – Samantha Sears; King– Connor Osborne; Prince –Noble Wentworth

2014 – Queen – TaylorDeseive; Princess – CourteneyHostert; King – Jeffrey Judge;Prince – Tony Bohnet

The 2015 Hay Days Queen Kassidy Jelinek and King Riley Bilsteinwere crowned at the Hay Days Coronation Dance held on Friday andsponsored by the Atkinson-Ettes. The Rumbles rocked the nightaway.

The 2015 Hay Days Royal Court were Caitlyn Nelson, Tori Huston,Queen Kassidy Jelinek, King Riley Bilstein, and Anthony Meyer.

2015 Royalty

Mr. and Mrs. Hay 1947-20151947 – Cal Thompson

1949 – Ray L. Pease

1964 – Leona Kilmurry(Miss Hay)

1965 – Col. E.C. Weller

1966 – B.H. “Bernie” Wilson

1991 – Warren Kelly

1992 – Lorraine Lieswald

1993 – Bill Milner

1994 – Connie Smith

1995 – Edgar Tunender

1996 – Helen Martens

1997 – Dan Ziska

1998 – Chuck and WilmaTasler

1999 – Don Mills

2000 – Pat and EarllaineKrumm

2001 – Art and DoloresPacha

2002 – Louis Kliment

2003 – Fred Dunn

2004 – Nancy Everett(Mrs. Hay)

2005 – Clara Enbody(Mrs. Hay)

2006 – Roy Goeke

2007 – John and DiAnn Gilg

2008 – Larry and LoisPoessnecker

2009 – Joe and PhyllisLangan

2010 – Mike Tasler

2011 – Gerald Burns

2012 – Ray and Ruby Dobias

2013 – Orland and AnitaAnson

2014 – Jim Brennan

2015 Mr. Hay

This year’s Mr. Hay was Dr. Robert Randall. Connie Schaaf againwrote the clues which appeared in The Graphic for six weeks.Mickey Braun was the first to guess the identity and got it after thefirst clue. There were only two people who guessed correctly thisyear, with the second person being Jim Slaymaker.

Hay Days ‘Back in the Day’

The City of Atkinson was founded on Saturday, August 7, 1880,

so this was the 135th Birthday of the City.

The first Hay Days in 1940 wasto celebrate the 60th Anniversary

of the founding of the City.

Ranch Rodeo steer roping

Ranch Rodeo participants

Ranch Rodeo steer roping

Duck Races

Duck Races, sponsored by St. Joe’s Home & School

Ranch Rodeo crowdRanch Rodeo roper

More Ranch Rodeo fun

Duck Races, sponsored by St. Joe’s Home & School

Ranch Rodeo participants

Duck RacesFrank Sinatra 100th Birthday Tribute Concert, sponsored

by West Holt Medical Services Foundation

Duck RacesCoronation Dance, music by “The Rumbles”

Inflatables in the City Park sponsored by Atkinson Hay Days Committee

Pony Rides

Tractors in The Hay Days Parade

Inflatables at the City ParkAtkinson Fire and Rescue Train

Atkinson United Methodist Church entry

Small Engine Display Wettlaufer Hay Sculpture

Children’s Archery at Mill Race Park sponsored by Dobias Excavating

Volunteer helpers serving the Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce Free Barbeque Car Show in downtown Atkinson

Greased Pig Contest, sponsored by Happy Hollow BoutiqueGreased Pig Contest, sponsored by Happy Hollow Boutique

Community Church Service

Hay Sculpture in the makingServers at Free Barbecue

Dr. Randall, speaker at Community Church Service

Free Swimming at the Atkinson Swimming PoolHusky Hay Sculpture West Holt Volleyball Team

Knights of Columbus Pancake Feed at the KC Hall

Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull, sponsored by Shane FarmsKids’ Pedal Tractor Pull

Two one-hundred-year-old Pearls - Pearl Farewell and Pearl Kaiser

Hungry customers at the St. John’s Lutheran Church’s cookout.

Turtle Races were sponsored by Silver Star Photography

Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull

Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull$1 Bowling at The Alley

Radio Controlled Car Race

USAF Heartland of America Band, sponsored by WH Medical Services

Atkinson Public Library parade entryShriner Car driven by Murray MellorHay Days Parade judges

Parade entry by Good Samaritan Society - Atkinson

Sons of the American Legion Color Guard

West Holt Public School Band

Float by St. Joseph’s School

Elaine and Jim Poessnecker riding Cushmans he restored Downton Abbey ladies from Atkinson Senior CenterParade spectators

Hay Days Parade spectators

The Team Jack bus pulled this entry which included Jack Hoffman (in the redshorts), along with three of Brent and Michelle Ogden’s children.

Parade Announcer, Mike TaslerAtkinson American Legion Riders

Mini Hay Baler

Patriotic tractor driven by RF Goeke

One of the entries in the Tractor Pull by Borderline Pullers

Trick bicycle rider

Parade Entry

1967 – Lawrence Pacha, JohnMohr, Jr. and Harvey Hanson

1968 – Lawrence Pacha, JohnMohr, Jr. and Harvey Hanson

1969 – Lawrence Pacha, JohnMohr, Jr. and Harvey Hanson

1970 – Lawrence Pacha, JimWhite and Ed Jansen

1971 - Lawrence Pacha, JohnMohr and Harvey Hanson

1972 - Lawrence Pacha, JohnMohr and Harvey Hanson

1973 - Lawrence Pacha, JohnMohr and Ed Jansen

1974 – NO HAY DAYS – Circus,Carnival and High SchoolRodeo

1975 – NO HAY DAYS – HighSchool Rodeo

1976 – John Mohr, LawrencePacha and Ed Jansen

1977 – NO PARADE

1978 – Lawrence Pacha, EdJansen and John Mohr

1979 – NO PARADE

1980 – Grand Marshall –Allen Beerman

1981 – NO PARADE

1982 – NO PARADE

1983 – NO PARADE

1984 – NO PARADE

1985 – Marshals wereMounted Riders; GrandMarshals – Dr. Ramsay andDr. Randall

1986 – KIDS PARADE ONLY –Clarence Tasler and JoeKramer

1987 – Elmer McClurg

1988 – Ed and Sylvia Bouska

1989 – Ed and MarianneJansen

1990 – Mildred Kaplan andDeloris Dobrovolny

1991 – John and EleanorMohr

1992 – Don and Zola Mills,Wayne and Claudia Galyen,Ed and Gloria Schmuecker,and Don and Marge Smith

1993 – Vince and LucilleOlson and Ed and MildredRentschler

1994 – Leo and The Gang

1995 – Orland and AnitaAnson, Helen Braun andOwen Kissinger

1996 – Uniola Adams

1997 – Charles and HollyShane

1998 – Art and Deloris Pacha

1999 – Brenda Livingston

2000 – Ben and LouTroshynski

2001 – Roy and Pat Goeke

2006 – Mike and Diane Tasler

2009 – Atkinson MinisterialAssociation

2012 – Ernie Van Horn

2014 – Jim and Patty Fischer

Kids’ ParadeMarshalls

1967 – Jim White andLawrence Pacha

1968 – Jim White andLawrence Pacha, Mayor E.H.Chace, Hay Queen CindyEnbody and Knights ofColumbus

1969 – Jos M. Kokes andElmer McClurg

1970 – Louis Siebert and LeeGilman

1971 – A.G. Miller and C.J.Brooke

1972 – American LegionColor Guard, West Holt HighSchool Band and Jr. LegionAuxiliary Color Guard

1973 – E.H. Chace and Jos M.Kokes

1974 – NO HAY DAYS

1975 – NO HAY DAYS

1976 – NONE LISTED

1977 – NO PARADE

1978 to 1982 – NONE LISTED

1983 – Jack O’Connell

1984 to 1990 – NONE LISTED

1991 – Lou Davis

1992 – Evelyn Jungman

1993 – NONE

1994 – Judy Krysl

1995 – Connie and ElvaFrickel

1996 – NONE

1997 – Bill and CarolynMilner

1998 – Ruby Dobias

1999 – Louis Kliment

2000 – Janessa Schaaf

1948 – “The March of Time”

1949 – “Our Country and OurPeople”

1952 – “Fairy Tales, Fablesand Comics”

1953 – “Nebraska – 99 Yearsof Progress”

1954 – “HollywoodExtravaganza”

1955 - NO THEME LISTED

1965 – “Around the World in80 Minutes:

1966 – “See America First”

1967 – “NEBRASKAland”

1968 – “Americanism” – “TVPrograms”

1969 – “The Good Old U.S.A.”

1970 – “The Wonderful Worldof Music”

1971 – “A Tribute to Science”

1972 – “Our Number One-derful World”

1973 – “For the First Time”

1974 – NO HAY DAYS

1975 – NO HAY DAYS

1976 – “200 Years ofAmerican Ideas”

1977 – NO PARADE

1978 – “Nebraska – The GoodLife”

1979 – NO PARADE

1980 – “The Good Ole Days”

1981 – NO THEME LISTED

1982 – NO THEME LISTED

1983 – NO THEME LISTED

1984 – NO THEME LISTED

1985 – “Scenes AcrossNebraska”

1986 – “Kids AcrossNebraska” KIDS ONLY PARADE

1987 – “Music Land U.S.A.”

1988 – “Celebrate NE 88”

1989 – “Famous People”

1990 – “A Salute to theProfessions”

1991 – “Old Wild West, WeLove You”

1992 – “The Past, Present andFuture”

1993 – “America in the Past”

1994 – “Hit Parade”

1995 – “Around the World in80 Minutes”

1996 – “Visions of the West”

1997 – “Silly Songs”

1998 – “TV Commercials”

1999 – “Remember When”

2000 – “

2001 – “World of MakeBelieve”

2002 – “American Heroes”

2003 – “Seasons of Harvest:

2004 – “A Blast from the Past”

2005 – “Decades of AtkinsonHay Days, 65 Years andCounting”

2006 – “Hay, Hollywood, LookAt Us!”

2007 – “Wonderful World ofInventions”

2008 – “The Good OldSummertime in Atkinson”

2009 – “Through the Pages ofa Book”

2010 – “Back in the Hay Day”

2011 – “Roll Out the RedCarpet for Hay Days”

2012 – “Viva Las Hay Days”

2013 – “Let the Hay GamesBegin”

2014 – “A Night at theMovies”

Parade Themes Hay Days Parade Marshals

The Parade Marshals for the 2015 Hay Days Parade were Karen andPaul Seger and are shown being driven by Ernie Van Horn in his con-vertible.

2015 Marshals

Parade entry for the Walk toEnd Alzheimer’s to be heldSeptember 19 in Atkinson.

2015 Parade Entry

Atkinson historian Gary A. Lech remembers Hay DaysBy Lorraine Lieswald,

Atkinson Graphic reporter

“Let’s All Make Hay” was theofficial tune of the two-dayAtkinson Hay Days celebrationon August 4 and 5, 1941. Gary A.Lech, Atkinson historian, said the

words wereprobably thebrainstorm ofBub Davis andwere writtento the tune of“The BandPlayed On”.

The wordswere: “The

Hay Days are coming we wantyou to know, So let’s all makehay! The days will be fair and wewant you all there, So let’s allbale hay! We’ve got what ittakes, all the mowers and rakes.You’ll have the best time of yourlife. The Hay Days are coming.It’s time to start bumming. Let’sall make hay!”

Lech has kept a detailed scrap-book of those first Hay Days cel-ebrations when all the towns-people came together to puttogether what was billed asNorth Nebraska’s BiggestProgram of Headliners: Hay DaysParade, Baseball – Norfolk vs.Denver, Art B. ThomasBombshell Shows, The FamousDeath Drivers, Baler Club Parade,Amateur Broadcast Show, FosterMay, World’s Championship HayBaling Contest, Baseball –Atkinson – Spencer LegionTeams, Hay Queen Coronation,Governor Griswold, CoronationBall, Art B. Thomas Midways,Dances – Harry Collins and DickWickman bands.

His scrapbook includes an edi-torial from the July 31, 1941Omaha World Herald where HayDays was described as “uniqueamong agricultural entertain-ment affairs. It is the only one, sofar as we have been able tolearn, that emphasizes theimportance of a crop, pre-emi-nent but usually given scantattention among agriculturalexhibits, grass.”

The editorial goes on to state –“The celebration belongs natu-rally to Atkinson as the nation’sgreatest hay shipping center andby right of pre-emption. In a larg-er sense however, it is or shouldbe an all Nebraska celebration.For grass, in pasture land ormeadow, growing wild or culti-

vated, is the foundation of theagricultural life of the state.”

“With the first Hay Days cele-bration it was a social event,”Lech explained. “There was nocompeting with television, out-of-town trips for entertainment,cell phones and other moderntechnology. It was the big eventof the year and everyone gotinvolved. They worked all year tomake it better. It was entertain-ment. There were big namesbrought into town – Roy Clark,Kitty Wells. Periodically they hadrodeos because the rural peoplewanted rodeos.”

He said the committee workedhard to give the people whatthey wanted.

Over the years, Lech said, HayDays has put a different spin onattractions. “Food is the empha-sis in today’s Hay Days whereback in the early days it wasentertainment. Events change. Ireally enjoyed the Black PowderMuzzleloaders we used to have.The Hickok boys had a tradingpost and I watched them back anapple cobbler. They started a fireand cooked it in a black skilletwith handles. It was good.”

Lech remembers a kite clubcoming to Hay Days where mem-bers flew kites, some equippedwith two handles for flying. Thenthere was the out-of-town modelairplane clubs which were talkedinto coming to the celebration.

“One year, just for show, therewere airplanes you made and areflown by man. They were startedwith a rope and handle, just likestarting your lawn mower.”

He doesn’t remember the yearof the first barbecue. “It wasgiven by the Atkinson merchantsas a way of thanking the commu-nity for its support in buying athome. It was quite a deal. Beforethe barbecue a crew took chain-saws and cut the wood. They liketo use hard wood. The daybefore the barbecue a big holewas dug. The wood was laiddown in the hole and thenburned. The prepared meat waswrapped in aluminum foil andlaid over the hot coals. Then itwas covered with dirt. The cooksknew just how long the meattook to cook. It was sliced andmade into sandwiches andserved to the public. There wasno charge. It has always beenserved in the City Park from thepark house. A huge crowd always

comes for the barbecue and it’s atime for visiting too. Lately theWesleyan Church has had enter-tainment to go with the barbe-cue.”

The Hay Days Parade hasalways been the big attraction,Lech said, and it has been one ofhis favorite Hay Days events.Until recent years, he said, therewas a Children’s Parade.

“The first years of the HayDays Parade there were bands. Ican remember high school bandsfrom Stuart, O’Neill, Spencer,and Butte, along with our localband. There was a cattle truckthat would pick the band mem-bers up and take them back tothe beginning of the parade andthey would march throughagain.”

“One year they had a Drumand Bugle Corps out of Norfolk –they were very good. Then therewere the trick riders from theWhite Horse Ranch. They werewayward girls who had beentaken in at the ranch and taughthow to do trick rides. All thehorses were white. Some of theranch’s white horses were usedin the ‘Ben-Hur’ movie.”

Organizing a Hay DaysCelebration today, Lech noted, is

accomplished by a committee. Itis harder to get volunteers toman events.

While Hay Days Queens werechosen by popular vote, today’squeens are crowned by voting onthe dance tickets they sell. A HayDays King has also been added tothe throne.

Mr. Hay, Mrs. Hay or Mr. andMrs. Hay are chosen and cluesare printed in The AtkinsonGraphic for readers to guess theidentity. In the past five yearsConnie Schaaf has written theclues. She also writes clues forthe Treasure Hunt which is hid-den somewhere around Atkinsonon public ground.

“One Hay Days I can remem-ber Gil Poese (KBRX) and his wifeemceed the queen coronationand opened the program bysinging, ‘We Got Married in aFever’. They did a great job!Once a top name singer washired for Hay Days. Bad weathercame up just before she was toperform – it was outside in frontof the old grandstand – and shewouldn’t sing. Then afterwardshe wanted to be paid. I don’tremember if she got her money.Then there was a group of musi-cians who came and stayedovernight in the country. They

were so fascinated by the soundof a creek that was near.”

Lech remembered theKangaroo Court was a popularevent where a citizen wasthrown into jail and they couldonly be released if someonewould pay his bail. “It was in theCity Park and the guy in jailwould yell at people walkingaround to get him out of jail. Itwas fun.”

Parades always ended withthe fire truck, he said. And icecream bars were always waitingat the end of the parade for thechildren in the Children’s Parade.

In explaining the reason forthe first Hay Days Celebration,Lech said it was the town’sGolden Jubilee. “This is the 75th

year of Atkinson Hay Days.During World War II Hay Dayswas not celebrated.”

Hay Days has changed.Atkinson Hay Days 2015 will be afour-day celebration beginningon Thursday, August 13 and run-ning through Sunday, August 16.

It has always been, however,an opportunity for the Atkinsoncommunity to come togetherand enjoy each other.

It isn’t known what year this float was put together by The Atkinson Graphic.

This article appeared in theAugust 7, 2014 issue of TheAtkinson Graphic.

By Lorraine Lieswald,

Atkinson Graphic reporter

The 74th Hay Days celebrationwill be observed in 2014 onAugust 14, 15, 16 and 17. Thismade this Atkinson Graphicreporter wonder how, when,why and where it started, so nat-urally, the best source of infor-mation would be the people whowere there – the old-timers!

After a dozen or more tele-phone calls and street conversa-tions this is what I learned.

The older Gary Lech, who wasjust a young lad when Hay Daysbegan, but who is a walkingencyclopedia of Atkinson history,told me the first Hay Days was inconjunction with Atkinson’sDiamond Jubilee.

It was held he said on August1, 2 and 3, 1940 and originatedwith the Atkinson Whisker Cluband Whiskerettes.

“Those Hay Days were great.They were so much of a commu-nity effort. First the city folk gotinvolved with the organizationand then the farmers came in. noone asked anyone, the wholecommunity just pitched in. Therewere lots of horses and buggies.Lots of country people were stillcoming to town in horse andbuggy then to get supplies. It wasa time when women didn’t gointo bars, and sometimes someof the husbands were staying thebar long after their wife wasdone with her ‘trading’ so thewife sent me in the bar to let himknow it was time to get out ofthere.”

“George was the Whisker Kingbefore we were married. Oneyear he was the prince, too. I wasbehind the scenes with hiswhiskers. He trimmed it and tookreal good care of it. It was realnice if you weren’t going withhim and doing other things closeto him. You were just an outcastin Hay Days if you didn’t grow abeard. The parade was reallysomething with other townbands interspersed with floats.”

Dona Verzal

“I ran for Hay Days queentwice but I never got it. I was justthe princess. I remember we hadto be in our formals and go to theevents. Once, I had to go in myformal to a baseball game and sit

in the bleachers during thegame. One time when I ran forHay Days queen Ole Brady had aclub meeting in her back yard. Itwas a picnic. We were all invitedand the governor was there. Idon’t remember his name. It wasnice!”

Mary Ann Wichman

“There was free delicious foodin front of every store for peopleto eat. The stores donated thefood. The Fist Hay Days therewere big booster trips promotingHay Days with music playing.Betty played in the band forthree years. Local bands playedin the town square. There was areal good orchestra at the CrystalBallroom. Famous people cameevery year to the celebrationwhere there was a big parade. Itseemed like everyone in towncame to the parade. There werebands from every town around.There were clowns, horses, andfood stands all over town servinghot dogs and hamburgers. It wasbig.

Betty and Robert LeMunyan

“They had more horses in theparades then. I doubt that I wentto all of the Hay Days. I doremember I made a centennialdress for me and I made one forJudy and I kept it. It is still hang-ing in my closet and I can wear it.I rode on the hospital float once.I’ll be 100 years old in October soI don’t remember like I used to,but it was big and it was lots ofwork.”

Pearl Farewell

“When we went on our boost-er trips, I was a cheerleader. Wewent as far east as Neligh andthen back to Ainsworth. I playedin the band. We had a 72-pieceband and Pat Atkin was the banddirector. I played the trumpetand I played first chair. We hadsuch beautiful floats then. MargeSmith put together beautifulfloats. She was fabulous. Ourband played every Saturdaynight in the town square. I was inthe first parade. I am 87 yearsold.:

Amy Jones

“When we went on boostertrips and put on shows, I tapdanced with my sisters andDonna Cole and Kathleen Baylor.I learned to tap from my sister.Our dad Art Humpal made aportable tap dance floor that youcould roll up and carry in thetrunk. Grace Sindler taught tapdancing. Other tap dancers were

Connie Miller and Marge Mack.”

Marilyn Schaaf

“My cousin Mildred Estes wasqueen. She married ArthurKaplan during Hay Days. Todayso many people don’t know howto hay. This turns me off. Iworked in the hay fields for 30years so I know all about haying.”

Cora Dickau

“I graduated in 1940. One timethe bakery had a float. It was afloat on Switzerland. The floatwas a country scene. There werethe Swiss Alps too. We made thefloat in Skrdla’s garage. My hus-band (Gun) sat on the floatdressed up like a Swiss man andplayed the accordion. He reallycouldn’t play. We had music.There was a big St. Bernard dogsitting by him. It was EliMcConnell’s dog. My daughtersthought the dog looked like ahorse so they got on it and rodeit around for a couple of dayswhen it was at our house gettingacquainted. We got a trophy forthe float and I think we also got$100.”

Clara Enbody

“I remember once they had awedding in front of the grand-stand. I think they came into thegrandstand pulled by white hors-es from the White Horse Ranch.Mrs. Alfred (Lois) Martens worea dark green velvet outfit with abonnet, high topped black shoesand rode in a surrey with a fringeon top. She was pulled by a singlehorse. There has never been aparade like it. A parade needs aband.”

Pat Gallagher

“Bonny Ziska Kilmurry was aqueen. My little daughter was onone of Marge Smith’s beautifulfloats. My daughter is Linda.”

Winnie Ankney

“Everywhere there were guyswith whiskers. If you didn’t growwhiskers and they caught youthey dumped you in the tank.The Whisker Club did this and itwas so much fun. The guys worelight colored collars and darkpants and vests. Mom and I had adress made with a bustle in theback. Margaret Bonenbergermade the dress. We went in cardall over to other towns. We had aquartet that went with us. Theycould sing! I remember BubDavis, Neil Davis, GeorgeMengcer, and Kercy Mengcer.Bub had that little man on his

knee and would make him makelike he was singing. Several oftheir wives would blend in whenthey were singing. Oh, how theycould sing.”

Earllaine Krumm

“The first Hay Days I canremember was when one of thePeterson girls was the queen, Ithink and she rode on a haystackpulled on an underslung. We did-n’t get to come that often. I doremember I gathered up popbottles and took them back. I’dgather up enough for a bottle ofpop. I do remember I got goodand sick from drinking pop.”

Murray Mellor

“I was the Whisker King at 19,but I had a little help I can’tremember but I think Holly was aprincess. Lori was a queen, Amywas a queen, Jenny was aprincess and my granddaughterAmelia was a queen. We were afamily of royalty. I went withBeth Tielke all through highschool and she was the queenthe year before I was king, so shegot to be one of the judges so Ihad a little inside help. I was inthe filling station and one of theold guys was growing a beard. Iasked him why and he told meand then told me I was too youngto grow a beard so I decided Iwould show him. I groomed thatand took real good care of it andI looked good even if Beth hadn’thelped me. The Neal twins wonthe baling contest and HaroldShane played the piano for thequartet.”

Charles Shane

“It seemed to me they hadmore imagination then. MargeSmith had so much imagination.Her floats were real clever. Inever really took part in any of it.I did grow a mustache and thenwhen Hay Days was over Ishaved it off. It would say I was aspectator.”

Ernie Brinkman

Hay Days Memories Revealed

1940 – Delores (Tesch)Pogson – 1st Queen

1941 – Evelyn (Ziska)Hazelhurst

1946 – Helen (Peterson)Ramm

1947 – Lilah (Smith) Heiser

1948 – Betty (Scripter)Wasson

1949 – Beth (Sloan) Tielke

1950 – Margaret (Rohrs)Meitzen

1951 – Vivian (Lemmer)Otteman

1952 – Cathleen(Weichman) Burback

1953 – Lodema (Wefso)Hodge

1955 – Leona (Schmit)Troshynski

1957 – Sandra (Davis) Shald

1958 – Clara (Thurlow)Patterson

1959 – Elsie (Karr) Martens

1963 – Carol (Hanson)McDonald

1965 – Michelle(Rzeszotarski) Winings

1966 – Jean (Mohr) Estill

Queens presentat the 1967

Parade

(NEBRASKACENTENNIAL)