Rita Duda new Rochesterfest chair
One of the most familiar voices and faces around Rochester will serve as general chair for Rochesterfest 2010.
The new person in charge is Rita Duda, the promotions director for Rochester television stations KTTC, Fox 47 and Signal Hills CW. She has been heard and seen on local commercials for the last 11years.
Rrita joined Fox-47 when the station began operations in 1998 and became associated with KTTC when the two stations banded together in 2001 and then added promotions for Signal Hills CW to her duties. She did promotional work for Universal Ford in Rochester before getting into the television business.She is no stranger to Rochestefest. She has served on the City Celebration Board of directors since 2002 and has volunteered for several Rochestefest activities. She also helps produce and does TV commercials for the Fest.
Rita, a Caledonia farm girl, and her husband Ed have lived in Rochester since 1983. Ed works as a career counsellor at the Work Force Center in Rochester. They met while attending St. Cloud State University, where Rita majored in speech and minored in theater and arts.
Rita and Ed have four children, who were all involved in one sport or another that kept their parents on the move. The oldest is 30-year-old Joey, who is as an accountant at the Smith-Schafer firm in Rochester. Their other children are Peter, 28, who works in the finance department at Mayo Clinic; Angela, 23, a student at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse; and Jacob, 21, also a student at UW-La Crosse. Jacob was a standout football and baseball player at Rochester Lourdes High School.
“I feel real honored to be selected as chair for Rochestefest,” Rita said. “I’m looking forward to working with all the great people associated with the Fest.” Rita suceeds Kak and Dewey Johnson, who served as co-chairs for Rochesterfest 2009.
Five resign from Rochesterfest board
Four former overall Rochesterfest chairpersons are among five Celebration of a City board members who have resigned from the board that oversees the Fest. The four are John Wade (the 1997 chair), Dennis Nygren (2005) and Al and Peggy Mannino (2007 co-chairs). Sue DiGrazia, who was named to the board a year ago, also resigned because she moved to Rochester NY. Wade joined the board in 2002, Al Mannino and Nygren in 2003 and Peggy Mannino in 2005.
Wade is president of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, Nygren is a 40-year employee at Crescent Electric in Rochester and Al Mannino is vice president corporate affairs at Home Federal Savings Bank . Peggy Mannino also has done work for Home Federal. Nygren and the Manninos have also served as chairs for various Rochesterfest events. Nygren has been the vendor and information booth co-chair for what seems like forever, Peggy Mannino was the Rochesterfest button chair in 2007 and 2008 and Al Mannino was the first Fed Ex airplane pull chair in 2008. Nygren will continue to serve as vendor and information booth co-chair. DiGrazia organized the Rochesterfest Parade for many years while working for the Rochester Chamber and served in an advisory capacity for the event last year.
Rochesterfest says a big thank you for these five departing board members.
Heins farm to host 2010 breakfast
Rochester Ag committee co-chair Harley Flathers has announced the 2010 Breakfast on the Farm, a Rochesterfest event, will be held at the Ron and Michelle Heins-owned Amber Rae Swiss Farm near Eyota. The 23rd annual country breakfast is scheduled on Saturday, June 26, between 6:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The farm is located in Olmsted County ½ mi. north of Eyota on MN Hwy 42. The Heins operate the 475-acre farm and three times a day milk 180 head of registered brown swiss cows.
The breakfast on the farm is sponsored by the Rochester Ag Committee and the Olmsted County Farm Bureau. Last year’s event attracted more than 3,000 people.
Honors Choir to present Oklahoma in 2010
The Southeast Minnesota Honors Choir’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which was held in conjunction with Rochesterfest 2009, was a big success. Organizers of the event reported that total attendance for four shows was 3,587 -- up from 2,055 in 2008 for Sound of Music -- and that net profit was $39,124.The event was held at Rochester’s Autumn Ridge Church for the first time. The cast and crew included about 135 children and adults from all over southeast Minnesota.
The Honors Choir will put on a production of Oklahoma as part of Rochesterfest 2010. It will be staged from June 24-27, again at Autumn Ridge Church.
Ice Cream Social huge success
The PossAbilities of Southern Minnesota Ice Cream Social, one of the most popular events of Rochesterfest, raised $6,800 in 2009. The money goes to support individuals with disabilities as active community participants.
The most popular feature of the Ice Cream Social is the ice cream eating contest for both kids and celebrities. Gabriella Pena was the 7-9 year old champion and Katelyn Goodman ate her way to the 10-12 year old title. Ted Schmidt of KTTC-TV successfully defended his title in the contest that featured local celebrities. Other celebrities who took part were Jeff Kiger of the Post-Bulletin, Dave Berg of 102.5 The Fox radio, Alex Morgan of Y-105 radio, Sarah Swistak of KAAL-TV and Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede.
The 2010 Ice Cream Social is scheduled Monday, June 21 at Rochester's Central Park.
Rochesterfest sponsor wins national award
The Gillette Group of Rochester has been named bottler of the year by Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages for 2008, it was recently announced. It’s the highest honor bestowed on Pepsi-Cola North America bottlers. Rochester Pepsi has been a major sponsor of Rochesterfest for more than a decade.
“Gillette Rochester has proven itself a real winner year-in and year-out,” Pepsi North America CEO Hugh Johnson said as he presented the award to Gillette Rochester CEO Fred Truax during a ceremony in Los Angeles. “You only have to visit the Rochester area to see just what an impact this bottler has on its community,” Johnson added. “When you look at the numbers they’ve posted in large-format retailers, in convenience and gas stores and at foodservice you’re simply blown away.
Pepsi Cola North America presented Gillette Rochester with a $5,000 grant, which it will donate to the Shjon Podein Children’s Foundation of Rochester.
2009 results
Rochesterfest Triathlon
Olympic
1st - Sam Hauck, Omaha, Neb, 1:55.48
2nd - Curt Wood, Chaska, MN 1:56.44
3rd - Alex Hooke, Rochester, MN 1:59.01
Sprint
1st - Jesse Nelson, Red Wing, MN, 54:18
2nd - Chris Koch, Rochester, MN, 54:26
3rd - Mederic Hall, Rochester, MN, 58:03
Puzzle Contest
Winning team: Janet Helgren, Marcia Helgren, Sue Jenkins and Matt Jenkins
Million $ Golf Shoot-Out
Championship - Philip Valenti won $1,000 for closest to the pin at 10 feet 6 inches
Session Winners
Tuesday 1st Session: Michael Mulcahey 1/2 inch
Tuesday, 2nd Session: Leif Erickson, Hole-in-One
Wednesday, 1st Session: Derek Clarey, 3 1/2 inches
Wednesday, 2nd Session: Larry Oefstedahl, Hole-in-One
Thursday, 1st Session: Tracy Phelps, Hole-in-One, Philip Valenti, Hole-in-One
Thursday, 2nd Session: Mark Boenish, Hole-in-One, Brian Lisovskis, Hole-in-One
Friday, 1st Session: Rob Mounts 4 1/4 inches
Friday, 2nd Session: Philip Valenti, Hole-in-One, Jeff Beck, Hole-in-one
Treasure Hunt
Winner Josiah Nagel - Found the treasure and won $500.00
Bicycle Winners
Kiwanis Parent Child Free Fair
Winners: Chase Larsen and Samantha Padmos
Parade High School Bands
Class A - 1st Place - Lake City, 2nd Place - Henry Sibley
Class AA - 1st Place - Winona Cotter. 2nd Place - Lutheran Vanguard. Overall Champion - Winona Cotter
Rochester's Strongest Man
The first Rochester's Strongest Man Contest proved to be a Clash of Titans where the winner was determined by 1 second on the last event. On the hot 85-degree day, Carl Foemmel, a 295-pound ball of muscle from Marshfield, WI, dominated the 1st three events. Carl carried a 235-pound sandbag, 250-pound sandbag Farmer's handles in each hand, and dragged a 560-pound sandbag anchor chain all 50-foot in 27.9 seconds to win the carry and drag medley.
The 2nd event was the last man standing deadlift. Alex DeMarco of Faribault, MN and Jeff Peterson of St. Paul, MN both finished with lifts of 820 lbs. but it was Carl Foemmel finishing 1st again with a lift of 870 lbs.
The 3rd event was the overhead press medley. Foemmel made quick work of 5 odd objects finishing 1st again.
The 4th event called for the athletes to flip an 800lb. tire 7 times as fast as possible. Jeff Peterson, a 220lb competitor with over 50 competitions under his belt, edged Carl in this event.
In the 5th event, Jeff Peterson pulled a 16,000lb. truck arm over arm style 50 feet in 41.5 seconds capturing 1st in the event. Foemmel finished a disappointing 4th in the event propelling Peterson into 1st place overall by a half point with one event to go.
The last event was one of the strongman signature events: the stones. Peterson and Foemmel were only a half point apart. Foemmel lifted the 5 stones weighing 235lb., 265lb., 285lb., 310lb., and 340lb. to the 50" platform in a blistering 25.7 seconds. Peterson followed with an inspired 24.4 second run to capture the title of Rochester's Strongest Man.
1st Place Jeff Peterson - St. Paul
2nd Place Carl Foemmel, Marshfield WI
3rd Place Paul Bayleat - PlymouthList of Winners – What they won: Ice Cream Certificates from Kemps
4th Place Joel Dierks - Voted Fan Favorite
Ice Cream Eating Contest
7-9 yr olds
1. Gabriella Pena
10-12 yr olds
1. Katelyn Goodman
Celebrities
1. Ted Schmidt KTTC
2. Jeff Kiger Post Bulletin
3. Dave Berg The Fox 102.5
4. Alex Morgan Y 105
5. Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede
6. Sarah Swistak KAAL
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!
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
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