February snow brings March mud...

It's back!

The time has come again for the North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City, ND and with that comes many, many activities for the community to be involved in. Not only the community, but the NDWS brings in people from all over. Something new and fun added to the line-up of activities this year is a Family Fun Zone that will be located in the South Exhibit Building. Some of these events include a NASCAR simulator, Black Hills Raptor show and a chance at $10,000 by hitting a Hole-In-One with the golf simulator.

All these events happening starting Tuesday, March 5th after Monday kick-off events including a chili cook-off and Community Olympics, which are a favorite amongst Show-goers. Of course, there are too many items to list, but all time favorites include: tractor and truck pulls, rodeo and the Party in the Dirt concert which will be held on March 8th. A full schedule can be found all around town in form of a pamphlet or on their website. You can also check it out on the Farm and Ranch Guide website along with an article about the country music that comes with the Wintershow.  In a personal opinion, the two rodeos held on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, along with the concerts are the main attractions for the whole event as they bring in people from all around. However, that's not what makes the Wintershow such a great thing. For many, as was pointed out during last year's 75th Anniversary, the Wintershow is about the memories we had as children growing up and experiencing it for the first time and now being able to enjoy it as an adult and maybe even take your own children for the first time.

This may be a small town, but every year we have one major thing to look forward to. Spending time with friends and family; maybe even making some new friends along the way. It gives the community some long hoped for fun, even if that means we finally get the nice weather we've hoped for making it impossible not to walk through 6 inches of mud on your way to the front door. It's all part of the experience and I'm glad to say--and could possibly speak for many others--I'm glad I live here and get to partake in this moment once per year.

Here's to 76 years of NDWS...may they continue for more years to come.

 

The Smoking Gun

Guns have been a big issue in our lives since the recent Sandy Hook school shooting. The whole issue has spiraled out of control bringing opinions and rage out of the wood work to get the issue resolved. This issue brings up a story about a young boy who took his life with a family pistol in Wyoming. Was it the gun...or was it something bigger than that? According to the Harvard Injury Control Research Center, the top three states for highest gun ownership are Wyoming, Montana and Alaska, which also happen to be the top three states for highest suicide rates. Most people seem to believe that guns are main cause of suicide...being the tool, not the reason. Again, the Harvard center claims that guns will kill a suicidal person 85% of the time while pills will only be successful 2% of the time. Arguments are being made about the ordeal. One half saying that the guns are to blame and owners and sellers alike need to find ways to deal with distraught buyers to make sure they won't use the weapon on themselves while others believe that the guns aren't to blame...the person is only to blame. Sharon Wells, a grandmother of another boy who took his life with a gun is convinced that if they can't get a hold of a gun, they'll find a way to do it and I don't believe she's far off by saying this. If a person truly believes there's no more hope for them, they will find a way to kill themselves...it's only a matter of time. Craig Reichert is the father to Kameron, the boy who took his own life, and blames himself for his actions and not locking up the family guns his family keeps in the house. He says that even if the family had had a gun safe, “There would have been two people in the house with the combination, him and me." Even after all the sorrow and trauma of losing a son, Craig still claims that, "I will always believe in guns." So maybe everything comes down to this: Gun Control or Behavioral Control? What will it take and when will it end...if ever.