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PIONEER DAY 2009 HUGE SUCCESS
The 2009 Pioneer Day Celebration will go down as
one of the best family days of the year! At 6:30 am thousands of
people from throughout Southeast Idaho celebrated their heritage in an
array of activities that took the entire day. The day started off
early as nearly 400 people gathered at lower Ross Park for the annual
Pioneer Day Fun Run and Bike race. Eager participants lined up on
1st Avenue and set off in opposite directions as bikes went one way and
runners went the other way. For results from the race click here. Many families participated together
as did friends and neighbors who encouraged each other along the way.
"Joy in the Journey" was the shout of encouragement as weary
runners and riders made their way along the course.
PARADE
Parade activities began almost as early as
the races as floats lined up to be judged in various capacities.
Over 75 Boy Scouts with traditional American and State flags
huddled around the Pocatello Chiefs for the Ribbon Cutting that started
the Parade. The Pocatello Chiefs, local dignitaries, and Police
Color Guard flanked Elder Spencer J. Condie of the Quorum of the Seventy who
cut the ribbon that started the parade. Elder Condie, a Pocatello
native, served as this year's parade Grand Marshall. Great photos of the parade are available on line from the Idaho State Journal.
The traditional Parade route was flocked by
hundreds of eager on lookers who waved and screamed as fancy floats,
proud horses, antique cars, beauty pageant winners, and local
commercial displays filed by. The parade lasted just under an
hour and ended in downtown Pocatello. This year's winners were as follows:
WINNERS OF THE 2009 PIONEER DAY FLOAT COMPETITION
1ST PLACE – GRAND SWEEPSTAKES WINNER: Tyhee Stake 7th Ward
2nd PLACE – FIRST RUNNER UP: Central Stake – Cedar Wards
3rd PLACE – SECOND RUNNER UP: West Stake 41st & 52nd Ward
JUDGES CHOICE: Chubbuck 1st Ward
ORIGINALITY AWARD – Noah’s Ark
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS – Mountain Shadow Landscaping
FAIRGROUNDS ARENA EVENTS
After the parade the celebration shifted to the Bannock County
Fairgrounds where the grins on the faces of the children tell the
entire story. The Boy Scouts kicked off the arena events with a
gala presentation of the colors and a salute to our nation's flag.
Over 100 boys took part in the carrying of the colors down the
parade route and the posting of the colors at the Bannock County
Fairgrounds. Boys and girls alike took part in the
mutton busting competition. The freestyle motocross races were
unfortunately marred by a serious accident suffered by one of the
riders resulting in
a severe break of his femur in two places but the motocross barrel
races proceeded without incident. The Arena Activities were
topped off by the traditional Pocatello Chief's Race and the Indian
Bareback races that had the crammed grandstands on their feet to watch
the brave young men round the turns on their beautiful horses.
KIDS LAND
Innovation brought some wonderful changes to the
celebration this year. Children under 12 had their own 'kids
land' where everything was free including hot dogs, face painting, fish
ponds, and princess castle. The older kids jumped on blowup toys,
jousted, slid, and hit the water slide. Inside there was a
shooting range, more face painting and pioneer doll making, and horse
rides. Even the pioneer hand carts were busy as familys took
turns pulling a hand cart around an obstacle course.
PIONEER STORE
Thanks to a generous donation by Gem State
Distributors the celebration was able to offer wonderful Pepperidge Farms
Products for only ONE dollar in the Pioneer Store under the grand stands.
The store also sold activity tickets, and concert tickets. The
Store was a great success!
PROMOTION AND CAR SHOW
Other innovations this year included posters
promoting the event placed in all churches and in local businesses
around town. An interstate billboard location was donated to
promote the festivities. A car show with some 25 classic cars was
included at the fairgrounds along with float displays. Great
photos of the activities at the Fairgrounds are available on line from
the Idaho State Journal. Many in the interfaith community also supported Pioneer Day by sharing stories of their faith's Joys in their Journeys.
DIGNITARY LUNCHEON
A number of local dignitaries attended a special luncheon in honor of Elder
Spencer J. Condie, the 2009 Parade Grand Marshall. The Luncheon
was held at the fairgrounds after the parade ended. Tables decked
out in gingham, straw hats, and rope, added life to the Indian
Tacos served chuck wagon style. The delicious meal gave a fitting end
to a long morning on the trail. Community leaders, including the
County Commissioners and the Mayor of Chubbuck and others, joined with
local LDS Church leaders and leaders of other faiths who reminisced
with Elder Condie who addressed the group of some 50 people with great
humor and diplomacy. Many of Elder Condie's former school mates
joined the group for lunch. Elder Ronald
Hammond, who had also joined the parade earlier in the day, spoke to the group and reminded all present
of the sacrifices of our pioneer forefathers whose memory was the focus
of our day's celebration.
EVENING CONCERT
The evening celebration was capped off by a fabulous concert put
on by the tight harmony group, ECLIPSE! Their toe tapping
performance brought the audience to its feet and gave the crowd of some
500 people at the Pocatello High School Auditorium a memorable evening not soon to be forgotten.
SERVICE PROJECTS
Also to be remembered are the many quiet service
projects that largely went unrecognized but added immeasurably to the
success of this year's celebration. For example, Eagle Scout Hyrum Balzer
decked out the beverages booth under the grandstands with new log
siding giving it the appearance of a wild west saloon. Also, some three
hundred youth from The Chubbuck Stake came together for youth
conference and repainted the grandstands and won acclaim for their
efforts in the Church News!
Another was the Cedar Hills Ward's efforts to repaint all the booths under the
grandstands giving them a fresh and clean look. Many other wards
and groups also participated in a variety of service projects from
landscaping to power washing.
OTHER ITEMS WORTH MENTIONING
- A
very extensive web-site was created this year to help coordinate all
the activities of the celebration. For the first time all wards
and Stakes could consult the website for assignments and answers to
questions about the numerous activities available to members of the
community throughout the day.
- The
Steering committee consisting of representatives from every State met
faithfully for 6 months prior to the event to share the burden of the
numerous assignments that were expertly carried out by enthusiastic
rank and file members of the LDS Church. Thanks to everyone for making
the
day so successful!
- The
Fair Grounds were decorated with large format images of yesteryear
including many images of early Pocatello LDS Church Buildings, Fort
Hall Indians, and early day parades!
- A 14' x 48' billboard on I-15 proudly invited all to join the Celebration activities.
- A
colorful and fun blowup village was added to the fairgrounds events
that gave youngsters the opportunity to jump and play and in some cases
cool down on the water toys.
- The Idaho State Journal
published a fantastic Pioneer Day 'SPECIAL ISSUE' featuring the pioneer
heritage of all faiths in our community. Every church was invited to
write a 500 word review of its history and submit 1 photo for the
publication that became a keep-sake item for Journal subscribers.
- Thousands
of service hours were rendered to the community leading up to this
year's celebration, an innovation that we hope will continue long into
the future of Pioneer Day Celebrations to come.
Thanks to everyone who helped or participated in the 2009 Pioneer Day Celebration |
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
|
| 6:30 |
Bike race
& Fun Run Registration |
Ross
Park |
| 7:00 |
Races
begin |
Ross
Park |
| 7:30
|
Parade lineup begins |
Holt Arena |
| 8:00 |
Float Judging - Parade |
Holt Arena |
| 9:50 |
Pocatello Chiefs Parade Ribbon Cutting |
Holt Arena |
| 10:00 |
Parade Begins |
Holt Arena |
| 11:00 |
Fairgrounds open |
Fairgrounds |
| 11:00 - 4:30 |
Activity and Food Booths |
Fairgrounds |
| 11:00 - 4:30 |
Car Show |
Fairgrounds |
| 11:00 |
Mutton Busting Weigh-ins |
Arena Area |
| 11:30 |
Dignitary Lunch in Building 1 |
Fairgrounds |
| 12:00 |
BSA Opening Flag Ceremony |
Arena |
| 12:15 - 1:45 |
Mutton Busting |
Arena |
| 1:45 - 2:15 |
Motocross Barrel Races |
Arena |
| 2:15 - 3:15 |
Motocross Freestyle Races |
Arena |
| 3:15 |
Indian Chief's Races |
Arena |
| 3:45 - 4:30 |
Indian Bareback Relay - FINALE |
Arena |
| 4:30 |
Clean up |
Fairgrounds |
| 7:00 |
Eclipse Concert |
Poky High |
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"Joy
in the Journey"
is the theme for the 2009 Pioneer Day Celebration. Inspired by the recent
address given by President Thom as
S. Monson, our celebration this year recognizes that along with
hardships and trials there are also moments of great celebration,
happiness, and joy.
This website is your source for
information about
the Pioneer Day Celebration being held in Pocatello, Idaho on Saturday,
July 18, 2009.
Here we will post information about
the PARADE and
the parade route. The BIKE/RUN
RACE as well as all of the ACTIVITIES
that will take place at the Bannock County Fairgrounds. There will be ENTERTAINMENT
at the fairgrounds from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Find out
how to REGISTER
a float in the PARADE,
registration information for the BIKE
/ RUN RACE, what ACTIVITIES are happening at the fairgrounds
and
when, as well as all of the ENTERTAINMENT planned.
If you have any concerns you can
contact any of
the chairmen of the various COMMITTEES
that are are happy to assist you
and answer any questions.
We look forward to celebrating Pioneer
Days with you!
For more information click on this link
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