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On a hot and steamy Saturday, June
21, the village of Hartsburg held its annual Founder’s Day
celebrating the town’s June 1871 founding.
Hartsburg Mayor Darien Ritterbush
was happy to see how many people were there in spite of the heat.
Ritterbush said it shows a small town with a big heart.
Video - 2025 Hartsburg
Founder's Day Kid's Tractor Pull
The day’s events began with a kid’s
tractor hosted by the Illinois Farmers Bureau Young Leaders. The
kid’s tractor pull was made up of lightweight, middleweight and
heavyweight class with the bigger kids pulling a heavier load on the
sled attached to the tractor.
With three kids competing in each
class, 2024 Logan County Fair Queen Abbie Arnold and Little Miss
Olivia Harmsen handed out trophies and participation ribbons to
everyone. Two kids in the middleweight and heavyweight classes did
full pulls, so they had to do a “pull off” to break the tie.
First place in the lightweight category was awarded to Knox Zinser
followed by Ty Hilgendorf in second place and Carson Charron in
third place.
First place in the middleweight category was awarded to Wyatt
Charron followed by Wade Zinser in second place and Silas Klokkenga
in third place.
First place in the heavyweight category was awarded to Weston
Klokkenga followed by Trent Osborn in second place and Claire
Osborne in third place.
Other activities include a ring
toss game, dime game and balloon toss plus a pick-a-duck 50/50
raffle. People could purchase one numbered duck for two dollars or
three for five dollars and put it in a pool full of water. When the
winning duck was drawn at the end of the evening, the lucky winner
would go home with half the money from the raffle. Some kids enjoyed
splashing their hands in the water and moving the ducks around.
With the heat, a blow up fire
hydrant with a sprinkler was a big draw for kids who ran happily
through the sprinkler.
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Near the bandstand, Karyl Davis did
free face painting. Several kids had their faces painted to look
like wolves or tigers, while others chose butterflies or rainbows.
Aaron Davis of Aaron’s Party
Balloons twisted balloons to look like swords, shields, flowers,
snakes, tigers, cats and various other animals.
On the sidewalk, Nichole Folkman
had two tables filled with free books. Since Folkman started
collecting books several years ago, she has given away over 10,000
books.
Cindy Munker, Interim Pastor of
Hartburg’s St. John’s Lutheran Church offered free prayers. People
could write their names and a prayer request on a piece of fabric,
then take a clothespin and hang the fabric on a fence.
The ever popular Bingo started
around 6:30 with Mayor Ritterbush as the caller. Small cash prizes
were awarded to the winner of each game.
At the firehouse, members of the
Hartsburg Fire Department grilled pork chops and hot dogs, which
brought in many hungry people. Dinner also included macaroni salad,
chips and a variety of desserts and drinks.
The Hartsburg Emden High School class of 2028 was selling popcorn
and snow cones, which were popular on the hot day.
Throughout the evening, people could be seen visiting or just
relaxing in chairs watching the activities and listening to the
music playing from the bandstand. As always, it was a good time for
people to catch up with those they rarely see.
Hartsburg Founder’s Day was an evening full of fun, food and
fellowship for this small town with a big heart.
[Angela Reiners] |
