The Kamsack Power House Museum has ended what board members described as a successful season, by holding a successful celebration.
The Harvest Time celebration took place at the Museum on September 2 to signify the end of another summer.
Included in the wind-up was a brunch of loaded hot dogs, tasty chili and refreshments with afternoon entertainment that included dancers, bagpipe music, vocal musical selections and a display of scale model farm equipment which covered three trailers parked on the museum grounds.
Bernie Brandt of Kamsack, who has a passion for scale model farm equipment which started when he was only six years old, brought 15 one-fifth scale model pieces for display at the Museum Harvest Time Celebration.
The equipment was a crowd-pleaser for young and old alike. 鈥淥ne fella asked if he could borrow one of my scale model combines to help him finish with his harvest, and I told him if he was willing to push it home and push it around the field and push it back to my place that he was welcome to borrow it, free of charge,鈥� said Brandt with a chuckle.
Among some of the items on display were several combines, one built in 1949 when Brandt was only 12 years old, a scale model auger, a four bottom plow, a seven bottom plow, a dozer blade, a post-hole auger and more.
The Philippine Igorot Dancers of Yorkton provided entertainment with a gong dance. In her introduction of the dancers Annie Morenos said, 鈥淭he Highlanders group of Yorkton will perform Cordillera cultural dance to the beat of gongs. The round metal gong of the Cordillera known locally as 鈥榞angsa鈥� is a symbol of the upland peoples鈥� culture that has been passed on from one generation to another.
鈥淚n most Cordillera festivals and tribal gatherings, gongs are beaten by mostly men to provide the rhythm and music to which the dancers perform. Every province in the upland region of Northern Philippines has a distinct tempo, beat or musical rendition as the gongs come in various sizes and metal components.
鈥淭he beating also depends on the very purpose of why the gongs are brought out to be played. It could be for a rain dance to produce rain to water the crops or a dance to celebrate a season of planting or harvest with a feast.
鈥淭he use of gongs dates back from ancient times not only for merry-making purposes but also as devices to warn and alert village folks of the coming of enemies and the presence of possible danger.鈥澛�
The dancers then performed an example of a rendition that would usually be played during merry making gatherings like weddings, reunions and festivals.
The dancers had to quickly depart back to Yorkton as some had to go to work. 鈥淭hey were happy to be part of the Museum鈥檚 celebration, and feel it is a way that they can 鈥榞ive back,鈥欌�� Morenos said, adding that some members of the dance group had lived in Kamsack in the past.
Keri Lindsay of Kamsack performed several musical selections on her bagpipes.
The spectators then moved indoors where they were entertained by the mellow vocals of Joey Garcia of Yorkton, who performed a number of musical selections including Unchained Melody while he accompanied himself on guitar.
Although the wind was rather challenging during the celebration, the clouds were intermittent, allowing for mostly sunny skies. A good-sized crowd attended the event it was said.
鈥淲e served over 110 bowls of chili,鈥� said Darlene Brown, board member and an organizer, adding that the event turned out to be 鈥渁wesome.鈥�
鈥淲e had help from volunteers who made this event such a success, but we鈥檇 like to acknowledge everyone who came out and supported the Museum today at our celebration, and throughout our summer season.
鈥淭he entertainers were most appreciated,鈥� Brown said.
鈥淭he Museum is now closed until next spring, but during this time the board will be planning activities for next year. We have plenty of work to do in the Museum to make repairs and have it ready to open next spring, and we would encourage and welcome anyone who might have an interest to join as a volunteer,鈥� she said.
