ROCHESTERFEST NEWS

Kak & Dewey chairing 2009 Fest

Call them the Rochester volunteers.

There’s hardly anything Kak and Dewey Johnson haven’t volunteered for in the last decade or two or three. Now they have added Rochesterfest 2009 co-chairs to the list.

“We’re honored,” Dewey said, “and we promise to work hard at it.”

Kak and Dewey are more than familiar with Rochesterfest, having chaired Family Fun Night for five years.

Both are retired, Kak as a teacher/coach at Mayo High School and Dewey after 27 years at Rochester IBM.

Kak is a member of the Rochester Quarterbacks Club Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 1997. She got girls sports started at Mayo High and coached the school’s first swimming and track and field teams.

Kak and Dewey have been involved in more community endeavors than you can count. They were co-chairs for the swimming events in the 1990 Star of the North Games and the 1992 National Junior Olympics, which were both held in Rochester. They chaired the 1998 World Tug of War Champioinships and helped organize the 2004 World Tug of War Champioinships, two more events that Rochester hosted. They were members of the Rochester Amateur Sports Commission’s Board of Directors for nine years.
Kak and Dewey have been involved in many Rochester endeavors outside the sports arena. They have volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House for 30 years, starting before there was even a house. Kak co-chaired the first Swing Your Birdie charity golf tournament for the House 30 years ago. It was the first charity golf tournament held in Rochester. Kak has served as president of the Ronald McDonald House Board of Trustees.

Kak and Dewey also served as guardians for children through Olmsted County’s Guardian Ad Litem child protection program. “It’s the most rewarding thing we’ve ever done,” Dewey said.

In addition, there was a seven year period in which Kak and Dewey served as librarians at the Olmsted County Detention Center.
Kak was the first health and recreation director at Rochester’s newly built Family Y in 1965.

In 2006 Kak and Dewey received the Rochester Amateur Sports Commission’s first Distinguished Service Award for the roles they played in amateur sports in Rochester. Kak and Dewey are both from Red Wing and in 1957 moved to Rochester where they’ve resided ever since.

How to get parade applications

For anybody who wants an application to participate in the 2009 Rochesterfest Grand Parade, there’s still plenty of time to do so. Applications can be obtained by calling the Rochesterfest office at 507-285-8769. For those who were in last year’s parade and those who have already made requests, application forms will be sent in early March. All applications must be returned by April 14. After that, the parade committee will select the 100 to 120 units that will participate in the parade. The parade has become so popular that last year some 50 applicants had to be turned away. The 2009 parade is scheduled Friday, June 26.

Capture the Spirit

Kak and Dewey Johnson, co-chairs of Rochesterfest 2009, have picked a theme for the annual celebration and the theme is Capture the Spirit. It’s the 26th theme in the 27-year history of Rochesterfest. There was no theme in 1985. The first theme in 1983 was 125 Years Rochester. It was actually a celebration to mark Rochester’s 125 years as a city. Then-Mayor Chuck Hazama liked the celebration so much he convinced people in Rochester it should be an annual celebration and Rochesterfest was born. Here are the themes from all Rochesterfests.

1983 -- 125 Years Rochester; 1984 -- A Celebration; 1985 -- No theme; 1986 -- Salute to Liberty; 1987 -- We the People; 1988 -- Building for the Future; 1989 -- Celebrate Our All-American City; 1990 -- A Salute to Our Heritage; 1991 -- Growing With Pride; 1992 -- 10 Years of a City Celebration; 1993 -- Rochester’s 135th Anniversary; 1994 -- Rochester #1 Magnificent City; 1995 -- The Best is Yet to Come; 1996 --- Family Fun; 1997 -- Community of Neighbors; 1998 -- Festival of Friends; 1999 -- Summer Fun for Everyone; 2000 -- Millennium Magic; 2001 -- Celebrate Summer; 2002 -- 20 Years and Growing; 2003 -- Celebrate our Growing Community; 2004 -- Festival of Friendship; 2005 -- Your Hometown Celebration; 2006 -- Summer Daze; 2007 -- Shine On; 2008 -- Best of Times ;2009 -- Capture the Spirit.

Bud, Pepsi again official drinks of Fest

Budweiser and Pepsi will continue to be the official drinks of Rochesterfest. Bud and Pepsi, which held exclusive rights for the past 10 years, were high bidders again for the years 2009 and 2010.

Shea farm to host Country Breakfast

The farm has been selected for the 22nd annual Country Breakfast on the Farm which will be held in conjunction with Rochesterfest 2009. The Shea Dairy Farm, located at 10240 Viola Road NE near Viola, will host the event on Saturday, June 27, 2009 from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. The farm is in Olmsted County.

Tom and Jason Shea along with parents Jerome and Marilyn Shea are owners of the farm, which is 700 acres in size. They have a 600-cow dairy herd with a rolling herd average of 28,000 pounds. They milk three times a day and have 19 full and partime employes. They ship their milk to Associated Milk Producers (AMPI) in Rochester. The Shea farm is located 12 miles northeast of Rochester on County Road 2 (Viola Road). Bus transportation will be available for those attending the breakfast. Buses will leave from and return to Century High School. The Country Breakfast on the Farm is one of the most popular events of Rochesterfest. Annual attendance has ranged from 2,500 to 4,500.

Alan De Keyrel new board president

Greg Walters’ two-year term as president of the Rochesterfest Board of Directors has ended and Alan De Keyrel succeeded him. De Keyrel is owner of Rochester’s Corporate Web Services, which has been in business since 1996 and was named 2003 Small Business of the Year by the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. De Keyrel has also been honored among the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans and the Southeast Business Journal's 10 under 40 list in 2002 and 2003, respectively.

We welcome two new board members

Sue DiGrazia and Nora Dooley have joined the Celebration of a City Board, which oversees Rochesterfest. Both are active in the Rochester community.

Sue, who’s now catering manager for Kahler Properties, worked at the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce for eight years. While at the Chamber she headed up the Ambassadors, who run the Rochesterfest Parade each year.

Nora has lived in Rochester for 10 years and serves on the boards of the Rochester Boys and Girls Club, the Zumbro Valley Audubon Society, the Friends of Quarry Hill Nature Center and the Rochester Parks & Recreation. In addition she serves on the committee on Urban Design and Environment and the Mayo Civic Center Advisory Committee.

Outgoing board members are Ann Larson, Pam Mickelson and David Holmes for their years of service. They will be sorely missed.
Ann has done almost everything for Rochesterfest. She has served as general co-chair, button chair, co-beer chair, co-vendor chair, family fun night chair and lumberjack co-chair.

Carole Brown in 17th year with Fest

Carole Brown has started her 17th year as executive director of Rochesterfest. After the 2009 Fest she will have worked with 21 different overall chairs, starting with Rick Lovett in 1993. A total of 13 former general chairs who worked with Carole are currently members of the City Celebration (Rochesterfest) Board of Directors.

 


The Midwestern Lumberjack Championships - 2008 June 21 & 22

2008

Competition Results

 

The Midwestern Lumberjack Championship is growing both in size and purse. This year, top-ranked lumberjacks and jills will compete for over $15,000 in prize money! This annual Rochesterfest event is a favorite and will be great fun for both participants and fans. Don't miss it!


Cost is $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for ages 6-17, and free for children 5 and under. $2.00 off with a Rochesterfest button!

Schedule of Events

Competitions will be held on Saturday, June 21 , and Sunday, June 22 at Foster Arend Park,
37th Street & East River Rd NW. Gates open at 10:00 am and competition begins at noon

2008 Prize Money

Event 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
Standing Block Chop $500 300 200 100 75 50 30 25
One Man Bucking $500 300 200 100 75 50 30 25
Springboard Chop $500 300 200 100 75 50 30 25
Open Mod. Chainsaw $500 300 200 100 75 50 30 25
Men’s Underhand Chop $500 300 200 100 75 50 30 25
Two Man Sawing $600 400 200 100 75 60 50 40
Jack & Jill Sawing $600 400 200 100 75 60 50 40
Axe Throw $125 90 75          
Jill & Jill Sawing $600 400 200 100 75 60 50 40
Women’s Underhand Chop $500 300 200 100 75 50 30 25
Women’s Single Buck $500 300 200 100 75 50 30 25
Masters Underhand Chop $400 250 175 100 75 50 30 25

Competition Rules

 

ONE MAN BUCKING:
A single sawyer uses a one-man bucking saw to cut through an 18-inch diameter log. Free end of saw must be clear of any handle or weight. Starting cuts no more than a half-inch deep, to set the teeth of the saw are allowed. Timing begins on the starter's signal and ends when the block is severed. Must be a complete disc. Cut will be within 2" from end of log.

STANDING BLOCK CHOP:
Competitors chop through a vertical standing log 12 inches in diameter. Contest is against time. Time will start on the starter’s signal and ends when block is severed. Slab rule will be in effect.

TWO - MAN SAWING:
Two sawyers working as a team use a crosscut saw to cut through an 18-inch diameter log. Starting cuts no more than a half-inch deep, to set the teeth of the saw, are allowed. Timing begins on the starter's signal and ends when the block is severed. Must be a complete disc. Cuts will be within 2" from end of log.

JACK & JILL SAWING:
Same rules as two-man sawing except a male and female will be the team.

JILL & JILL SAWING
Same rules as Two Man Sawing except the team will consist of two women sawyers on a 16-inch diameter log.

OPEN MODIFIED CHAINSAW:
A single sawyer, using a one-cylinder engine makes three vertical cuts on an 18-inch diameter log. Contestants will be given 1 minute to warm up their saws. Saw will then be shut off and placed on ground. Hands will be placed on top of block. Contestants will start on starter’s signal. Each contestant will make three (3) complete cuts within 6” marked from the end of the log. Cuts will be made in this order: down – up – down. False starts will be disqualified. Manual starters only. Must be a complete disc. The same saw cannot be used by more than one contestant.

MEN’S UNDERHAND CHOP:
Competitors chop through a horizontal log 12 inches in diameter. Cuts are made with the competitor standing on the log. Contest is against time. Time will start on the starter’s signal and ends when block is severed. Slab rule will be in effect.

MASTERS UNDERHAND CHOP:
Competitors chop through a horizontal log 12 inches in diameter. Cuts are made with the competitor standing on the log. Event will be handicapped. Slab rule will be in effect. Time will start on the starter’s signal and ends when block is severed.

WOMEN’S UNDERHAND CHOP
Competitors chop through a horizontal log 11 inches in diameter. Cuts are made with the competitor standing on the log. Contest is against time. Time will start on the starter’s signal and ends when the clock is severed. Slab rule will be in effect.

SPRINGBOARD CHOP:
Competitors notch a spar tree and insert springboards to use as foot supports. Contest is against time. Timing begins on go and ends when 11” block is severed. Two springboards must be used. Log cannot be cut from one side only. Springboards may not be placed in holders cut previously. Slabbing rule will be in effect. Competitors will compete Saturday or Sunday, with best times to determine the top eight winners.

WOMEN’S SINGLE BUCK
Same rules as one man bucking, except a female sawyer on a 16-inch diameter log.

AXE THROW:
The center of the target will be 60” from the ground. The throw line will be 20’ from the target. Axe must be a double-bit with a 24” minimum overall length, including axe head and the face of the blade shall not exceed 6”. There will be one practice throw and three throws for points. Contestant with the highest score wins. In case of a tie, a throw-off will be conducted. It will consist of three throws, no practice.

SAWING WOOD – WHITE PINE

CHOPPING WOOD - ASPEN