Thousands of people returned to McGregor to celebrate the 58th annual Wild Rice Days events over Labor Day weekend.
The crowd seemed eager to enjoy food; vendors and crafters; games, inflatables, bungee jumping and barrel rides for kids; the 33rd annual Grand Timber Bank Auto Show, featuring 103 registered classic vehicles; a great selection of entertainment throughout the weekend, the frozen t-shirt contest and the grand day parade.
Pat Anderson led the 2022 parade as this year’s grand marshal. Ryan Ward, Isanti, took home the $200 cash prize for thawing his frozen t-shirt and putting it on with no rips. A total of 1,200 Wild Rice Days buttons were sold. The $1,000 prize will go to the owner of button number 0266. The second and third place prizes of $300 and $100 were claimed. Cash prizes for button holders must be claimed within 30 days of the event.
On Sunday, families enjoyed 600 dozen ears of fresh-off-the-farm, butter-dipped corn, food, beverages, games, bingo and family-friendly karaoke at the 55th annual Lions Corn Feed.
“This was one of the busiest Wild Rice Days any of us could remember!” exclaimed Missy Pieske, McGregor Area Chamber of Commerce event planner. “It was great to see the streets filled and the vendors so busy all day, and we couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather.”
Pre- and post-WWII classic Lincolns win first place prizes
John and Dorothy Palmer, Barnum, earned two first place trophies at the 33rd annual Grand Timber Bank Auto Show on Sept. 3.
John won in the collector category for the couple’s 1946 Lincoln four-door sedan and Dorothy in the restored/modified category for their 1942 Lincoln Continental.
The trophy for the 1942 Lincoln was a sentimental one for the couple. They purchased the car this past spring from the family of a dear friend, Roger Wothe, Wayzata. “ Roger had owned the car for 30 years,” said John. “For 15 years, it sat in pieces - nuts, bolts and all.” Dorothy added Roger had selected the final color -a metallic two-tone gold tint, long before the car was restored. “Roger finally had the car completely finished and drove it less than 200 miles when he unfortunately passed away,” continued John.
The 1942 Lincolns are a rare find from a turbulent year. John noted 1942 was the last year the Lincoln Continental coupe was made prior to WWII. The 1942 Lincolns arrived in showrooms on Sept. 30, 1941 and were continued in production through Feb. 1, 1942, with approximately 200 made.
The 1942 model Lincolns fashioned squared-up fenders and a revised grille lending to a boxier, heavier look in keeping with then-current design trends. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and entry of the United States into World War II, production of automobiles for civilian use was suspended.
The 1942s were also equipped with a liquamatic automatic transmission, which was problematic, according to John, resulting in a mass recall and replacement of the transmission to a standard one.
After World War II, the Lincoln division of Ford returned the Continental to production as a 1946 model.
To attract buyers, the design was refreshed with updated trim and distinguished by a new grille.
The classic cars, side by side, bookmarked an era in this nation’s history as it faced its worst fears – uncertainty, war, danger, the tragic loss of life, acts of bravery and heroism and then came back to triumph and heal.
