Rain storms fail to dampen Hampton’s hometown spirit
While heavy rains rolled through the area over the weekend, the weather had little impact on Hampton’s Summer Lovin’ Booster Days celebration that started Friday night and ran through Sunday evening.
The major effect of the rain showers that fell overnight Friday after the evening’s events were concluded was to turn the sand volleyball court at the park into a sandy soup into which several players fell while trying to dive for the ball on Saturday.
Sunday’s weather was just about perfect for the parade at 4 p.m. Puffy clouds provided just the right amount of shade at times and it was just warm enough that the spray from a couple of firetrucks bringing up the rear of the parade was inviting to kids along the parade route so that they ran after the trucks to take advantage of the cool shower.
Crowds were good for the Sunday afternoon and evening events which appeared to draw participants from well beyond the Hampton area. This reporter talked with people who had come in from the Fairfield and Henderson areas, and there were even a couple of South Africans who are working in the Henderson area this summer.
Parade winners
The parade on Sunday featured the usual array of fire trucks, tractors, classic cars, floats and marchers, several of which sported patriotic themes for America’s 250th birthday approaching next month. Near the front of the procession were this year’s parade grand marshalls, Roger and Judy Werth, riding in a convertible.
Winning the title of Best Theme was just such a patriotic entry put together by several Hampton women. The entry consisted of a golf cart driven by Jean Anne Schmidt as Miss USA, accompanied on foot by Sharon Klute as Besty Ross, Loa Winter as Uncle Sam and Damaris Olsen as the Statue of Liberty. A sign on the front of the cart proclaimed “Happy 250 America! God Bless the USA.”
Meanwhile, the Best Classic Car Award went to Mary Roehrs for her 1957 Thunderbird; the Best Tractor Award went to Jay Schulze driving a John Deere tractor owned by Diana Schulze; the Plainsman Museum float was named Best Business Float; and Countryside Bible Church was awarded Best Youth Float.
Kid’s Tractor Pull
A large crowd gathered in front of the City Auditorium to watch the young contestants in the annual Pedal Tractor Pull Competition sponsored by the Hampton FFA Chapter and Ken Vincick with the Nebraska Pedal Pullers Association. The contestants included 41 kids aged 4 thru 12. The top three boys and top three girls in each division are able to advance to the State Pedal Pull competition held during the Nebraska State Fair in August.
Hampton FFA members assisting with the event included: Kale Mooney, Rylan Dietz, Noah Miller, Brayden Wolinski, Cason Bamesberger, Stella Spirk and Atleigh Klute.
Results (all results are listed in order of finish):
Four-Year-Old-Boys: McCoy Meadows, Hampton; Hayes Faller, Hampton; Tucker Senff, Benedict; Declan Dose, Hampton.
4 Year Old Girls: Palmer Fagan, Hampton; Aella Klingsporn, Polk; Naomi Epp, Bradshaw; Remi Conroy.
Five-Year-Old-Boys: Rhett Goertzen, Hampton
Six-Year-Old-Boys: Stetson Fagan, Hampton; Maverick Dose, Hampton;
Six-Year-Old-Girls: Myla Meadows, Hampton; Adalyn Hansen, Hampton
Seven-Year-Old-Boys: Brysen Faller, Hampton; Gatlin Bamesberger, Hampton
Seven-Year-Old-Girls: Elsa De La Cruz
Eight-Year-Old-Boys: Kynastin Brown
Eight-Year-Old-Girls: Stella Cadwallader
Nine-Year-Old-Boys: Reid Olsen, Hampton; Liam Faller, Hampton; Simon DeLaCruz, Hampton; Chance Goertzen, Hampton; Leyton Bamesberger, Hampton; Ryder Steager, Hampton.
Nine-Year-Old-Girls: Amalita Epp, Bradshaw; Isabel Wick, Kansas; Elizabeth Ventiecher, Hampton
10-Year-Old-Boys: Felix De La Cruz
10-Year-Old-Girls: Sydney Hansen
11-Year-Old-Boys: Wade Bamesberger, Hampton; Grady Begley, Hampton; Wyatt Klute, Hampton
11-Year-Old-Girls: Laramie Epp, Bradshaw; Kendall Goertzen, Hampton; Nora Lemburg, Hampton.
12-Year-Old-Boys: Ethan Spirk, Hampton
12-Year-Old-Girls: Elizabeth Bamesberger, Hampton; Eva DeLaCruz, Hampton; Scarlett Hansen, Hampton; Ruth Venteicher, Hampton.