KBPV Harvest Fest a success despite changeable weather

Ethan and Emery Patterson with their sheep
T. Lucas photo

Toni Lucas

Weather didn't seem to affect the spirits of close to one hundred people that attended the Harvest Fest at Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village in Pincher Creek on Saturday, October 20.  Two mini-blizzards hit during some of the scheduled activities, and most of the children took it in stride. Some stayed outside, others moved indoors and did crafts, or explored some of the buildings on the site.  The kids were bundled up bundles of energy and had a blast as they entered into contests with each other, listened to music provided by Pincher Creek Multimedia, made crafts, created rope, visited with the sheep and went through the bale maze, a well appreciated perennial favorite.

Sack races
Frank van Zandwijk photo

Sack races and a bean bag toss were quite popular when the weather was co-operating.

Bean bag toss contestants
C. Davis photo

Francis Cyr of the Bloomin' Inn used over 200 straw bales to make the maze a fun place for the kids to get lost in.   Kids of all ages enjoyed stopping off at the "Grain Pit" as well.  Assembled by the Early Childhood Mapping Coalition (ECMC), this was a trough filled with toys that held canola seed.  Even the adults ran their hands through the seeds, and helped set up little villages, farms, and make roads for the trucks.  ECMC representative Collette Sinnott explained how this kind of activity stimulates a variety of senses and expands creativity and imagination.

Samantha Uhersky in the bale maze
T. Lucas photo

Ruby Spranza and Francis Cyr make a rope
T. Lucas photo

Denise Somerville of Chinook Lanes Bowling put together a number of crafts for the kids to enjoy including a wooden sheep they could take home and paper pumpkin decorating.

Sasha Lepine with her sheep, rope and pumpkin
Toni Lucas photo

Many appreciated all the fine artwork of those that entered in the coloring contest sponsored by 7-11, and the "My Best Fall Photo" contest entries, sponsored by Walmart.  The photo contest winners were:  Heather Dodd first place, Caroline Johnson in second place, and Elsie Neumann in third.   Displayed in the front building these were on view during the last Pioneer Market of the season on Friday the 19 and the Saturday 20.   Also in Pioneer Place Building was Della Oosterlee of Dellight Images, who visited with anyone who wanted some advice and ideas how they could improve their own photography.  We thank all those that sponsored, participated and volunteered throughout the day, making for an exciting and fun day for all.

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