The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1938-11-10
Host to National Contest Has Big Job

"more than 1875, 000," on the basis
of car count, adding in the
throng which paid so cents for
round trip special train ride to
the field from Sioux Falls, and
bus customers. The railroad ran
within a quarter mile of the
field.
Husking crowds are strictly
rural = farmers and small town
people enjoying a day off, sober,
orderly and quiet. Entertainers,
such as platform acts during the
weighing, get good hands if Xix
ed and courteous treatment even
if their number fails 'to click"
Pickpockets are the sole city in
fluence, such outsiders nicking a
dozen persons, who reported to
Sioux Falls authorities, for $500.
One of the men reporting a loss
was listed by police as "a con
man himself"
Although it continued cold, the
rain stopped with our arrival.
The grounds were muddy but only
spots were soupy and the area
in the tent quadrangle, a mea-
dow any other day, was quite
passable. Swede did find soft
spot and 20 rods later missed a
rubber which we had to go back
after. Everyone we met had seen
it and we finally came across a
fellow towing it. He was glad to
be relieved of the chore and
seemed pleased with the political
cigar Swede handed him.
Bands In Parade
A moment later the parade
started, the first section includ-
ing state runners-up, the second
section the state champions, both
in their wagons with judges and
cleaners. All the way through
quite distinction was made be-
tween champs and near-champs,
the scoreboard and scorecards
noting the facts in regard to each.
There were seven or eight
bands in the parade, from various
South Dakota towns, the Sioux
Falls school group present.
ing a particularly good appear
ance. Behind each wagon march
ed 40 Legionnaires from South
Dakota posts, each with some
characteristic garb such as new
overall jackets or bright legion
caps. The job of each was to
march behind wagon after the
contest started, keeping the crowd
at arms length from the husker.
We mentioned embellishments.
Among these were the brightly
painted bangboards. Each was
bright red with rows of white
polka dots, about five inches in
diameter and perhaps three in
ches apart. Some of the tractors
pulling them were new streamlin-
ed models, complete with radios
and each wagon had flag on
which was printed the name Of
the state from whence the husker
came, We hope it was not political
propaganda that the Minnesota
flags were red. sss.ss.
- AS Balko went by we spotted
several Paxtonites and during the
day we saw numerous other Red
wood countians on the grounds.
Reuben Serkland drQye over from
Flandreau and was with us part
of the afternoon.
The 81 wagons from II states
turned into the field, Bafko's
taking the fourth lane as decided
by lot with Richard Anderson,
the South Dakota champ, next to
him. This was rather a bad break
since the two were among three
or four crowd favorites and there
fore had big throngs following
them. It was inevitable that they
would tramp down some corn as
the wagons moved across the first
time which would have to be
picked up on the back stretch.
Huskers take two rows at time.
The meet is started with two
explosions of dynamite, one "to
get ready" and another ''to CO."