By Crystal Hayduk, photos by Burrill Strong
Cool temperatures and threatening gray skies did not dampen the spirits of the children playing games on Aug. 25, the opening day for the 2015 Chelsea Community Fair.
The games for children ages 4 through 10 are hosted by the Chelsea Community Fair with the assistance of the Chelsea School District, and include a coin hunt, sack race, and three-legged race. The Chelsea Children’s Cooperative Preschool assists with the trike pull for children ages 3 through 5.
In the trike pull, children ride for a specified distance while pulling a crate laden with water-filled milk jugs. According to teacher’s aide Deb Hubbard, every child who tries it gets a ribbon and a ticket for a free carnival ride.
After a few practice runs on a trike, 4-year-old Keagan Nowak was a pro, as evidenced by the big smile on his face. Keagan’s proud mom, Tamara Nowak, said that this was her son’s first time participating in the games.
The other games are more competitive, so children participate in age groupings of 4 and 5, 6 and 7, and 8 through 10.
In the coin hunt, children are permitted to keep any money they find hidden in a pile of sawdust. Second-grader Kylie Wonders emerged from the pack of children with a cup half-filled with coins, including the silver variety. She gave it to her mother, Elisabeth, for safekeeping before competing in the sack race.
“Kylie has been coming to the fair every year since she was born,” said Wonders. Her 2-month-old daughter was sleeping in her arms, blissfully unaware of the games, but who will no doubt be a fierce competitor in a few years.
Seven-year-old Libby Timberlake found 30 cents in the coin hunt. “She’s happy,” said her mom, Cathie. “It’s wonderful that they do this for the kids.”
Scott Wooster, the district’s director of technology, paid close attention to the coin hunt. He quietly dug some coins out of his own pocket and tossed them in the direction of a few children who were having trouble finding money. “Just to make it a little easier for some so that nobody goes home empty handed,” he said.
The second-place winner of the three-legged race in the 8-to-10 year old category was a pair of siblings, Elijah and Grace Miriam Ratliff. Elijah said that they have participated in the event in the past, but that this is the first year they have done it together. “The best thing about the three-legged race is trying to work together and communicate what to do without messing up,” he said.
Overall, the event was considered a success by school district employees. Teacher Jason Morris said, “This is probably the most kids we’ve ever had. I don’t think the cooler weather has bothered anyone at all. Especially since last year we had to cancel it due to rain.”
