New Hamburg's picnic features old-fashioned fun

Eleven tents promoting political candidates were arranged along the perimeter of the picnic grounds at the annual New Hamburg picnic Saturday. Simple pleasures included tents to shade picnic goers from the sun, an occasional breeze and for a not-yet-full-grown dog, a water-gun squirt in the jowl for relief.

The talent show kicked off the day's events with performers barely sweating it. Lindsey Grojean, who performed "Part of Your World," the theme song from Disney's "The Little Mermaid," said she was not nervous, "Not one teeny weeny bit." New Hamburg is where she lives, and there were plenty of people there she knew.

Among them were Sharon Brashear, a resident of Oran. She used to come to the annual picnic more often but not as much now. Brashear's main reason for coming this day was to support Lindsey. "I think it's great. It gives the kids something to do. They don't really have to dress up and the whole thing is short and sweet."

Performances by girls in fancy dresses, boys in cowboy outfits and patriotic costumes were the rule more than the exception, and after performing they slid into casual clothes. Fancy clothes on hangers were the only evidence of their previous spot in the limelight.

The paint dried just in time for the washer tournament this year. Roseann Enderle of New Hamburg said, "We just finished painting them at 2 p.m." The tournament started at three.

New Hamburg resident Curtis Essner said he'd been coming for about 20 years. "The biggest change is the riproaring dance we quit having. We all just got tired of baby-sitting the kids who wanted to fight."

By the time the church supper was in full swing, about 400 people were scattered around the picnic grounds.

Going to the New Hamburg picnic was a birthday surprise for Marsha Pearson of Risco, Mo. "We've never been to New Hamburg, and my husband knows I like to do things like this. It reminds me of days gone by."

Her husband, Tom, said, "The little town of Risco used to have a Fourth of July celebration, but it stopped. We miss it."

Mary Grojean of Scott City came for the grandchildren to watch their cousins in the talent show. She has attended the picnic off and on for years. "We usually come one of the two days. The food is good at the church supper," she said.

At the top of the hill the smell of a smorgasbord dinner wafted through the air while scents of corn dogs and fair food permeated the bottom land.

Clad in a cowboy outfit and hat, 8-year-old Jacob Breese of Jackson performed "The Shake." He said he had to practice the shaking but the unique growling came naturally. " I didn't sweat at all this time," he said.

Alex Heeb, 13, and his brother, Jacob Heeb, 10, brought Speedy and Minn along for entry in the turtle races. "Speedy really is fast," said Jacob. A 5-year-old female turtle, Speedy won last year.