Make it good

As a kid growing up on the farm, we had a hired man who would come help us when we worked or moved cattle and during harvest time.  He was a real character, a hard-working, good-natured older fellow with a closet full of coveralls and a wise crack for every occasion.

One of his favorite sayings was, "Make it good."  Always delivered with a wry smile , he'd say it whenever you told him you intended to do something — be it heading out to plow a field, mowing the yard or going to town on a Friday or Saturday night.  

I was reminded of him this week as I looked over the schedule for the Days of '49.  The first thing you notice is it's a little lighter than it has been in recent years.

The celebration appears to have lost some steam. Perhaps it’s a sign of the times.  The mainstays like the rodeo, the parade and the street dance remain very popular and will likely draw nice crowds again this weekend.  

But on the flipside, consider the following: 1) no teams signed up for last year's tug-of-war; 2) the Sunday drag racing was lost last year due to issues with the track; 3) the fashion show, the kiddies parade and the vendor market are not on the schedule this year, nor is the merchant roping, and 4) the organizer of the car show has said this is the final one he intends to organize.

You'll never hear a hint of criticism directed toward the members of the '49er committee from this corner.  They've been doing it for as long as I can remember and it takes a ton of work to plan and carry out the events we've come to expect out of '49ers.

But if '49ers is ever going to thrive again, it's going to take the rest of us to come up with new ideas and provide the spark and energy required to develop and promote them.  And if new events do end up on the schedule, it’ll be on us to acknowledge the effort and at least give them a try because if they aren’t supported, they’ll die on the vine.

Which brings us back to the hired man's words of wisdom. 

Make it good.

It applies to the Days of '49. Despite the subtractions, lot of fun things will be happening over the next few days.   

For example, the folks at Lisa's have stepped up, adding games to go along with the tug-of-war.  If you haven't attended one in a while, you ought to.  And take your kids. Something about a hot day, a fire hose and a good soaking. Guarantee you won't see happier faces all weekend.

More than 40 vendors have booked tables at the gun show. That's more than last year. 

The rodeo is more interesting than ever — at least for this scribe – because it's part of a summer-long circuit where cowboys and cowgirls vie for the points crowns.  And if the weather's right, a good rodeo can be a wonderful way to spend a summer night. And at $10, it’s a bargain.

A huge turnout of autos is expected for the car show, with burnouts to follow. That's new.  And a different band, Blackwater instead than the usual Cowley Boys, is performing for the street dance. 

The point is, the Days of '49 may not be what it once was, but it's still a great opportunity for us to celebrate our community, socialize with friends and family and enjoy ourselves for a few days.

Make it good.