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Bubba's Korner by Dan Nordine editor

With Moose Fest approaching (August 8-10), I got to thinking how these summer celebrations in Karlstad have evolved over the years. The events themselves still attract a lot of people, provide a lot of good family entertainment and still do a wonderful job of promoting the community.
The earliest I can remember are the Potato Days that were held back in the Fifties. Everything was centered around the area’s potato growers, and there were a lot of them at that time. Potatoes were a big part of the community, providing jobs and stabilizing the local economy. I remember people in the fields, and it took a lot of them, picking potatoes with wire baskets in hand. I also remember going to the fields with my mother and many other people who were “afterpicking”, gathering potatoes left in the field after the harvester had passed.
The “Potato Days” event involved foot races, parades, and many of the same sort of activities we see today at Moose Fest. Back in those days it was put together by a very active Karlstad Civic & Commerce Association (C&C).
Potato growers became fewer and fewer and in recent years, except for a couple of area farms, have all but disappeared from the local landscape.
The C&C renamed the event Summer Fest. Many of the activities remained the same, but without the old spud theme. A Miss Karlstad Pageant was added, which was a lot of work for those involved. There was the recruiting beforehand, then putting a show together, rehearsals, and a big gala show. The winner went on to represent the area in the Miss Minnesota Pageant.
And, of course, Summer Fest still had the occasional parade, though it was not held annually as it is today. But still, it was great entertainment and brought a lot of people to town.
And, oh yes, did I mention... The Karlstad Civic & Commerce Association was at the center of it all.
Now we have the Moose Fest. The C&C has gone the way of the previously mentioned potato growers, and the City of Karlstad has taken over the organization of the event. The bulk of the organizing (and much of the work) falls on the shoulders of two people. City Clerk Wayne Ruud and his assistant clerk Sue Dufault.

There are others involved who take on the specific events, and they do a great job. But what really begs mentioning is the fact that without Wayne & Sue, I can’t imagine the Moose Fest taking place.
I came back to work here at the North Star News last January. And I began covering city council meetings immediately after I was placed in this position. From the very first meeting I attended, Moose Fest was on the agenda and Wayne and Sue were digging into possible events that would keep it attractive and fun for everyone. And I am sure this was going on long before I arrived on the scene in January.

Events had to be planned, food vendors found, contacts had to be made, quotes gathered to keep costs in line, event managers needed to be recruited, prices had to be negotiated, and new events had to be found while annual events were reorganized for another year.
Through the years, since I was no longer living in the community, and sometimes living far out of the area, I was unable to attend Moose Fest of the past. But last year I did manage to get here. Needless to say I was impressed.
I am still impressed when I watch those two people in the City Office put this thing together. Though, I am no longer quite as surprised. They are like a well rehearsed circus act. Wayne does the negotiating and Sue does the juggling. Wayne calls the different attractions, Sue organizes and works on the promotions.

So when you attend the Moose Fest this year, and when you are totally exhausted after keeping up with all the activities, and leaning back, kicking up your feet and relaxing, and just feeling satisfied that you had a really good time, give a little thought to Wayne and Sue.
While you are at it, you might even want to say thank you. They do a bang-up job.

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