Top: Emily Jacobsen makes a great catch. She and Lily Gruber Schulz, both of Grand Marais won the women’s competition. Upper left: Ahna Schulte and Christian Viel won the Mixed division. Lower left: Seth Erickson makes a nice catch. He and Gabe Erickson went 55 feet for the win. Above right: Former Fish Toss champ Cindy Skrien took second with Jewel Skrien.
Fish Toss
Kids, 12 | and | under | |||||
Seth | Erickson | and | Gabe | Erickson | 55 | feet | |
Monroe | Chumklang | and | Jewel | Skrien 45 | feet | ||
Ole | Skrien | and J. | Kemppainen | 40 | feet |
Women, | 13 | and | up | ||||
Emily | Jacobsen | and Lily Gruber | Schulz 53 | feet | |||
Jewel | Skrien | and | Cindy Skrien | 49 | feet | ||
Sam | and | Meg | 40 | feet |
Men, 13 and | up | |||||
Josh Piland | and | Aaron | Kerr | 90 | feet | |
Derek Hirsch | and | Kevin | Hirsch | 61 | feet | |
Connor Lund | and | Zach | Blakely | 60 | feet |
Mixed, men | and | women 13 | and up | ||
Christian | Viel and | Ahna | Schulte | 65 | feet |
Cece Olsen | and | Jacob Rude | 60 | feet | |
Kia Johnson | and | Clay Gruber | Schulz | 45 | feet |

Above: Little Amelia Wilkes and her grandfather, Steve Deschene, wait for results in the Cutest Puppy Contest. Her 5-month-old yellow lab Freda earned them “Best Handler” for medium puppies.
Cutest Puppy Contest
Huge | |||||
Cutest | Quinn | Great | Dane | Heidi | Doo-Kirk |
Handler | Quinn | Great | Dane | Heidi | Doo-Kirk |
Medium | ||||
Cutest | Linnea | Yellow | Lab | |
Handler | Freda | Golden | Retriever Amelia Wilkes |

The judges in the Cutest Puppy Contest have a nearly impossible task. This year’s judges were Staff Sergeant Josh Finner and his wife, Amanda. However, the large puppy category was easy. Heidi Doo-Kirk’s Quinn was the only entrant in the huge group. Six-month old Quinn was very well-behaved and handsome and deserved both the Cutest and Best Handler award.
Small | ||||
Cutest | Hank | English | Bulldog | |
Handler | Callie | Australian | Shepherd |
Tiny | |||
Cutest | Finnegan Coton | de Tulear Amy Jean | |
Handler | Ruffles | Maltese |
Overall | |||
Cutest | Finnegan Coton | de Tulear Amy Jean | |
Handler | Ruffles | Maltese |

The Bautch team of Lauren, Natalie, Stan Jr. and Bethany made quick work of two 64-ounce Blizzards in one minute and 21 seconds to take home $100 in Dairy Queen certificates. The Bautch team finished second last year and were 2014 Dairy Queen Blizzard eating champions.
Hoopin’ in the Harbor
15 AND UNDER
1ST PLACE
Superior Savages
Sophie Eliasen
Will Ramberg
Peter Sutton
Abigail Crawford
16 AND OLDER
1ST PLACE
Okay
Max Andrus
Mason Ollman
Hunter Monson
Bobby Hawkinson
16 AND OLDER
2ND PLACE
Los Tigers
Troy Fisher
Collin Mallers
Kenny Hasley
Thomas Barnes

Fourteen co-ed teams participated in Hoopin’ in the Harbor. Abby Crawford with the Superior Savages guards Colton Furlong. Her team took 1st place in the friendly completion.
CONSOLATION WINNER
Bang Bros
Andre Robinson
Sam O’Phelan
Will Sandstrom
Lucas Phillips
Rock Skipping
Kids | |||||
Riley | Rosenthal | 7 | skips | ||
Jordos | Backstrom 7 | skips | |||
Goshi | Dimitrov | 6 | skips |
Women | |||
McKenzie | Abbott 9 | skips | |
Paulina | Backstrom 7 | skips | |
Lori | Sundman | 6 | skips |

Ruffles the Maltese was not only adorable, she performed for the crowd, earning her girl the Best Handler award for tiny dogs.
Men | |||
Kevin | Patro | 9 | skips |
Jeff | Seeling | 6 | skips |
Vince | Larson | 6 | skips |
Loon Calling
16 and under
Emily Sommers, Duluth
Seth Ericson, Buffalo
Sophia Nolte, Cottage Grove
16 and up
Sarah Pogatchnik, Woodbury
McKenzie Abbott, Oakdale
Hunter Pogatchnik, Woodbury
Tractor Pull
Age 4 | |||
Jenna Lin | Ames, Iowa | 28’0” | |
Amelia Wilkes | Plainsview | 26’0” | |
Jack Retzer | Edina | 24’11” | |
Age 5 | |||
Russell Fisher | New | Richmond, | Wis. 28’0” |
Ozmandiaz | Brown Wrenshall | 23’3” | |
Xavier Block | Spring Lake | Park | 22’2” |
Age 6 | |||
Nash Roed | Hugo | 28’0” | |
Hailey Smith | Grand | Marais | 13’10” |
Charles Watt | Plymouth | 13’7” | |
Age 7 | |||
Devan Rude | Grand | Marais | 26’1” |
Mackenzie Eder | Apple | Valley | 25’10” |
Blake Castaneda | Newport | 22’3” | |
Age 8 | |||
Harrison Watt | Plymouth | 17’2” | |
Elisha Erickson | Buffalo | 28’0” | |
Rissa Roenning | Savage | 27’4” | |
Age 9 | |||
Kehan Taintor | Ames, Iowa | 28’0” | |
Chloe Merrick | Rice Lake, | Wis. | 24’9” |
Gabby Benolkin | Zimmerman | 21’6” | |
Age 10 | |||
Aimee Shold | Duluth | 28’0” | |
Harvey Prodahl | Mendota | Heights 27’8” | |
Gabe Erickson | Buffalo | 21’4” | |
Age 11 | |||
Jazmin | Castaneda Newport | 25’11” | |
Dylan Alleman | East Bethel | 25’5” | |
McKenna Kipp | Dellwood | 19’5” |

Left: Trenton Keller of Princeton won the Sven & Ole’s Pizza Eating Contest, finishing a 12-inch thick crust cheese pizza in 8 minutes 16 seconds. Right: After 7 years of trying, Gus Linden of Somerset, Wisconsin finally won the Pickled Herring Eating Contest, finishing the half-pound of herring in just 21.6 seconds.

Paulina Backstrom of Grand Marais finished 2nd in the Rock Skipping Contest. She had 7 skips, just behind McKenzie Abbott who had 9. Right: The youth rock skippers accept their awards.
Cross Cut Saw Competition
Men | |||||
Marc | Erickson, | Buffalo | 13.06 | ||
Don | Rassier, | Buffalo | 16.92 |
Women | |||
Jodi Nelson, | Richfield | 49.12 | |
Angie | Skelly, St. | Louis | Park 1:16.14 |
Mixed Doubles | |||||||
Marc Erickson | and | Leisa | Erickson, | Buffalo | 29.17 | ||
Eric Tofte, Grand | Marais | and | Maggie | Neidern, | Ely 19.48 |

Kids gave it their all in the Pedal to the Medal Tractor Pull on Saturday. Hailey Smith of Grand Marais took 2nd place in the 6-year-olds class.
Men’s | Doubles | ||
Darek | Albertson and Cory Albertson, Stillwater 14.26 | ||
Don | Rassier, | St. Cloud and Jacob Rassier, St. Joe 25.48 |
Women’s Doubles | ||||||||
Stephanie Radloff and | Sam | Wallner, | Grand | Marais | 15.73 | |||
Kassie Simpson, | Pennsylvania | and | Liana | McClintock, | Wisconsin 20.06 |

The sounds of loons echoed over the Picnic during the loon calling competition. McKenzie Abbott took 2nd in the 16 and up division.

The Minnow Races, coordinated by Lion Myron Bursheim, had kids lined up around the block by the Beaver House on Friday. Above: Gabriella gives her minnow some motivation. It worked! Gabriella took 1st place. The other winners were Ella Ford and Elsa Eckman.

There were also dozens of excited kids at the Minnow Races on Saturday. The winners were (LR) Sylvie Lagine, Paige Haugan, Eloise Silence.

Above: Lisa Erickson was all smiles as she and Marc Erickson took 1st place in the mixed contest. Right: Sisters Sam Wallner and Stephanie Radloff soundly defeated the other competitors. Stephanie also won the women’s division.

Don Rassier showed good form to take 2nd in the men’s singles. He also won the men’s doubles with Jacob Rassier.

Above: The Thunder Bay Police Pipe Band earned the well-deserved Best Marching Unit. Right: The Fly Box didn’t win an award, but Scott Sorensen was a crowd-pleaser with his fly-casting float.
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