The middle of July through the first week of August is historically the peak of the vacationing season up here in the northland. That was reflected in the wonderful crowds of racers that came to Longville on Wednesday. There were 433 racers on Wednesday exceeding previous years. In an economy where business is somewhat down, it is up at turtle races in Longville. Both kids and adults love to race turtles and play the games in Longville. The circle was jammed packed for hula hoopers and dancers. It was a blast to see that many kids and adults on mainstreet participating in pre-race festivities. This week's famed Chicken Dance Singers performed exquisitely. They were Julia Szilagyi of Naples FL; Tyler George of Bloomington, MN; Jenna Hamberg of Eden Prairie, MN and Smantha Meek of Ramsey, MN. Next came the YMCA dance leaders. Their performance on the turtle mobile stage was worth the price of admission alone. The crazy dancers were David Rollen of Mpls; Emily Aamoth of Bloomington, MN; Angel Welu of Dubuque, IA; and Brooke Dannenfeldt of Urbandale, IA. The Resort Turtle Race came first. Fourteen resorts competed for top honors. They were Pine Haven Resort Blackwater Lake, Woman Lake Lodge  Woman Lake, DOK Holiday Resort Woman Lake, Red Wing Lodge Leech Lake , Minne Teepee Resort Woman Lake , Pine Ridge Resort Girl Lake of Woman Lake Chain, Tri-Birches Resort 5 Point Lake, Borde Du Lac Lodge Leech Lake, Pinehurst Resort, Little Boy Resort Little Boy Lake, Broadwater Lodge Woman Lake, Thunder Lake Lodge, Thunder Lake , Girl Lake Resort Girl Lake of Woman Lake Chain, Longville Inn Downtown Longville, and Timber Trails Resort, Boy Lake. The winner was eleven-year-old Lizzy Hall of Whitewater, WI who with her family were vacationing at Timber Trails Resort on Boy Lake. The business of competing among the 433 racers then began in earnest. After the dust had settled the Grand Winner was six-year-old Joe Langer of Long Prairie, MN and the Grand Slowpoke winner was four-year-old Henry Peterson of Burnsville, MN. Three very grateful and appreciative young people won Valleyfair Tickets and tickets to events at the Mall of America, compliments of BL Broadcasting in Brainerd. BL Broadcasting operates four radio stations in Brainerd with WJJY FM 106.7 as their flagship station. Winning Valleyfair tickets were nine-year-old Robert Swinson of Stacy, MN and twelve-year-old Kayla Johnson of Hayfield, MN. Winner of the $200 valued Mall of America package of tickets was nine-year-old Ashley Andreson of Oak Park, MN. Twenty business and community volunteers made the afternoon a hoot for an estimated 1500 racing on-lookers and participants. Ryan and Marisa Skajewski helped Pat Boen with judging. Anne Broshar, Stan Johnson, and Rose Franta registered racers. Terry and Jim Felegy sold tickets and souvenirs and Marge McDonald and Dodee Colberg handed out prizes. Game operators were Geri and Tom Staley, Sue Meyer, Karen Nelson, Chuck Colberg, Ed Lammers, Diane Kutschied. Elsie and Dennis Hagen, Caroline Townsend, and Alison Farnsworth. Gordon Atzen, amazingly, popped 200 bags of popcorn during the races. Representatives from Keller Williams Realty and Lakeland Promotions helped with the races. Set-up and teardown was accomplished by a great crew from Camp Olson, Gerry Broshar, Tony Ozark, and the volunteers. Dave Wodrich and Stan Johnson were street monitors. Race announcing duties fell to John and Sandy Weins and Gerry

Turtle Race Winners

Front Row, Left to Right:

Grand Slowpoke - Henry Peterson, Burnsville, MN; Age 4 Grand Winner - Joe Langer, Long Prairie, MN; Age 6

Back Row, Left to Right:

Ryan Skajewski, Judge

John Weins, Announcer

Marissa Skajewski, Judge

Pat Boen, Chief Judge