The Best Team of Horses prize was actually won by Barney Nettleton's entry of an oxen team pulling a covered wagon at the Hay Days Parade in Pickford Saturday, August 2. Chains rattling and horses whinnying, the sound of 7,500 pounds of dragging weight came to a sudden halt, producing a cloud of dust from which Goetzville's Jim Cripe and his two enormous horses emerged as winners in the horse-pull competition at Hay Days Saturday, August 2, in Pickford.

"This is a great event," said John Wellington of Sault Ste. Marie, as he admired the team stepping away from the "boat" of weights donated by organizers of the Stalwart Fair.

As onlookers clapped for the horse-pull competitors, Mr. Wellington filled in the last square of a notebook in which he had carefully charted the contest on Chippewa County Road Commission grounds near Pickford's Glen Gough Memorial Township Park, where Hay Days events continued into the evening. Nearby, the fields were green, and fanned out across them rested the large bales of hay for which the area, and the festival, are known.

Laini Russell of Pickford and Elsie McGuire (front) of Brimley pose with "Shorty" at the petting zoo in Pickford during Hay Days Saturday. In terms of participation, "it's not the best year for this contest," Mr. Wellington said, noting that 14 teams were involved in 2007. Saturday the horse pull included five teams, but for good reason. Owing to a rainy season, many who normally participate remained in the fields cutting hay, and did not compete.

Still, Mr. Wellington and other onlookers did not seem to mind.

"It's one of the better parts of Hay Days," he said of the horse pull.

Born and reared on Mackinac Island, he knows horses. For years he served as an announcer for the horse pull. Now, he simply loves watching the contest and charting the strength of the animals that remain important to the agricultural tradition of Pickford.

Not far away, events on Main Street had just ended, leaving a wake of flower petals and pieces of hay to mark the passing of hay-bale races through town, floats, and other features in the main parade Saturday and the Kids' Parade Friday evening.

Roger and Nina Leach of Pickford pose between two 2008 festival themes - a bale of hay and a display of flowers - on Main Street in Pickford just after the Hay Days parade Saturday, August 2. "The event turned out well," said event organizer Sarah Morrison. "It is fun to see the community come together and celebrate the joys of small-town life."

Youth put a lot of effort into their activities, she noted, and she credited volunteers for the successful event.

"The rain went right around us Friday," she added. "It never rains for Hay Days."

A highlight of the event, Pickford Hay Days Queen Leigha Dilday was crowned Friday evening by her predecessor, Janet Thompson. She was chosen on the basis of an essay she wrote related to this year's beautification theme, as well as interviews with judges. Delores Nettleton was named Hay Days Belle, and Mary Rader and Kyle Radle reigned as Princess and Prince of Hay Days. All are from Pickford.

Competition results follow:

Hay Days Parade - Best Class Reunion Float: Class of 1958; Best Commercial or Business Entry: Landscaping float by Marty Jacobson; Best Club or Organization Entry: the Les Cheneaux Christian Fellowship, featuring a "Celebrate Jesus" theme; Best Music Group or Person: the Stevenson Sand Ridge Gang, which rode on a wagon playing music for the crowd; Best "Flower Power" Theme Entry: the Pickford Community Library; Best Antique Car: a '55 Chevy driven by John Aimer: Best Antique Tractor #1: Tyler Rye's 1937 Allis Chalmbers B; Best Antique Tractor #2: Tyler Rye's 1945 Case SE; Best Team of Horses: Barney Nettleton with a team of oxen and a covered wagon; Best Single Hitch: Maggie Clegg with her pony pulling a cart of flowers; Best Horse Riders: Karen Bennet, Emily Bennet, Amy Bennet, and Gerry Harris, who rode horses to promote a charity fundraiser; Best Off-Road Vehicles: Rutledge Snowmobile Racing and Carol Skinner's two four-wheelers.

Hay Bale Races: This year's winner was a team consisting of Charlie Halsey of Pickford, Paul Morrison of Pickford, and Ben Morrison of Sacramento, California. Ben is the cousin of Paul Morrison.

Horse-Pulling Contest: Five teams participated in the event Saturday afternoon. It ended with pulls of 7,500 pounds. The team of Jim Cripe of Goetzville took first place. The team of Gary Bower of Ceresco took second place. He also received the Horsemanship Award, an award earned by the participant who handles his team best during the competition. The team of Dave Esslin of Goetzville took third place. The team of Joe Harrison of Goetzville took fourth, and the team of Bob Wegmeyer of Lachine came in fifth.

Hay 10K Results

There were 15 competitors in the race.

Curt Van of Sault Ste. Marie was the 10K champion with a time of 38 minutes, 10.16 seconds. Janet Hess of Sault Ste. Marie was women's division winner, with a time of 52 minutes, 46.49 seconds.

First place age division medals were awarded to Lee Kanitz, Hessel, 39:31.69; Tyler Goetz, Sault Ste. Marie, 43:13.64; Scott Sherlund, Caledonia, 47:11.64; Steve Spalding, Waterford, 47:08.24; Jim Elzinga, Conway, 57:14.98; Carmen Haley, Sault Ste. Marie, 60:52.25.

Second place medals went to Mark Nyberg, Pickford, 67:09.11; Randy Vining, Sault Ste. Marie, 42:15.89; David Wallick, Katonah, New York, 60:44.25; Don Morrison, Rochester, Minnesota, 57:16.01; Laurie Herman, Cincinnati, Ohio, 54:32.83 seconds.

Hay 5k Results

There were 36 competitors in the race.

Matt Schlosser,15, of Cedarville, won the 5k run with a time of 21 minutes 0.82 seconds. Victoria Cusick,13, of Pickford, was the female winner with a time of 25 minutes, 36.69 seconds.

Age division winners were Jordan Vandergeest, Whitehall, 23:32.58; Paul Morrison, Pickford, 21:15.63 seconds; William Hoske, Fruitport, 29:04.34; Alan MacArthur, Sault Ste. Marie, 21:15.63; Dan Crimin, Sault. Ste. Marie, 23:50.13; Jim Jackson, Grosse Isle, 22:18.49; Tom Spencer, Rudyard, 33:25.63; Stacie Schultz, Twin Lake, 29:48.64; Wendy Snyder, Moran, 25:45.26; Nancy Kennedy, 26:01.59; Carol Suarez, Dearborn, 28:14.32.

Second place medals went to Tom Kennedy, Grand Rapids, 22:38.94; Ian McCulloch, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 26:43.31; Chris Burke, Somerville, Massachusetts, 34:39.85; Thad Ledy, Pickford, 21:45.49; Russell DeFreitas, Sault Ste. Marie, 26:44.81; Jerry Morningstar, Hessel, 28:25.58; Rebekah Fitzgibbon, Plantation, Florida, 31:36.34; Kate Rye, Chicago, Illinois, 32:41.43; Cindi MacDonald, Kalamazoo, 27:41.13; Debra Laakko, Ypsilanti, 33:39.11.

Hay 2k Results

Matthew Kennedy, 14, of New Haven, Indiana, finished first in the 2k Fun Run/Walk with a time of 7 minutes, 42 seconds. Championship trophies were awarded to first place runners younger than 13. These were awarded to Jacob Andrzejak of Pickford and Alyssa McCord of Pickford.

First place age division winners were Trevor Hackney from White Hall, Brad Reedy from Holt, Robert Buzzard from Brimley, Victoria Vining from Sault Ste. Marie, Heidi Hagen, Missy Hagen, Nancy Ramsey, Marlene Hatfield, and Sarah Ramsey, all from Pickford.

Second place medals went to Kamen and Heidi Labinski from Cedarville, Blake Henderson from Fort Wayne, Kelsey Rambo, Arlene Petkus, Dylynn Pierce, and Emily Blenkhorn of Pickford, and Claire Morrison from Sacramento, California.

Checkers Tournament: The event was won by Ben Gulder of Pickford.

Horseshoe Tournament: John Willette and Bud Jacek took first place; Don and Judy Jones of Pickford took second.

Three-on-Three Basketball:

Seventeen teams competed in four age categories.

Division 1: 1st, Chase Massey, Jade Ledy, and Kamen Labinski; 2nd, Austin Marshall, Drew Marshall, Carter Tallaire, and Hunter Frazier.

Division 2: 1st, Jacob Hatfield, Ian Firack, Isaac Terrian, and Eric Carson; 2nd, Zach Snider, Seth Van Luven, Ben Skinner, and Derrick Edington.

Division 3: 1st, Jacob Andrzejak, Dennis Wondergem, Jared Hatfield; 2nd, Abbie Andrzejak, Amber Colosky, Kristi Gough, and Stacey Beard.

Division 4: 1st, Tim Gough, Charlie Nelson, Paul Morrison, and Matt Schlosser; 2nd, Charlie Halsey, Cody Becks, Jacob Eddy, and David Hurban.

Youth Pool Tournament:

Willie Weston won the overall championship. Age group champions were Kirk Peffers, Claire Morrison, and Charlie Halsey. Second place awards were given to Aaron Weston, Rob Wallis, and Ben Morrison.

Lawn Tractor Pull:

601 to 800 pound bar: First, Logan Fegan; second, Travis Rye; third, Steve Batho; fourth, Jonathon Kamper.

801 to 1,000 pound bar: First, Logan Fegan; second, Travis Rye; third, Jonathon Kamper; fourth, Caitlyn Hancock.

Ping Pong Tournament:

Seventeen and younger: First, Ben Morrison; second, Paul Morrison; third, Seth Gruenberg; fourth, Claire Morrison; fifth, Seth Becker.

Eighteen and older: First, Paul Gruenberg; second, Brandon Delgado; third, Ryan Hering.

Softball Tournament The Brew Crew of Newberry defeated the Goetzville team.