72nd annual Smoker review

Attendees not only received a meal but also entertainment while they ate. With the Kramer Stage as a new addition to the Smoker, everyone was treated to a woodchuck event that consisted of three challenges for those who volunteered to strut their stuff.

For Brent Kauth, who has attended the event for four years, the event is very entertaining to watch. “The logging events are probably my favourite because it’s always a challenge to do; it’s fun,” he said. “I wish more people would come out and do it, but that’s definitely the most fun time.”

First, competitors were challenged to drive a nail into a board while wearing a pair of alcoholic impairment simulation goggles, which made for a great laugh as everyone struggled to strike the nail with their hammer.

Upon completion of the nail driving challenge, they then had to stack fourteen pieces of wood on an unbalanced stump. Finally, the challengers had to saw through a large piece of wood to finish the event.

Each contestant was timed throughout, and the person who managed to complete all three challenges in the least amount of time won a prize.

Other prizes were up for grabs in the form of silent auctions, a 50/50 draw worth over $2,600, and three major raffle draws totalling $2,500 worth of booze.

While the event was busy, the turnout wasn’t as large as expected, but Kouth hopes that doesn’t mean the event will stop given last year’s uncertainty if it would continue.

“I definitely hope it keeps going,” Kouth said. “It’s tough to plan big things when other [big events] line up.”

Besides the food and activities, many of those who attended are hunters and fishers, and never lose sight of the most important point of the event; to support BWF’s programming that helps preserve the land.

jared.gottselig@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW

by Jared Gottselig

72nd annual Smoker review

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