The goal of the Throw the Dough contest is to knock the hat off of the scarecrow, reenacting an event that occurred in the Great Hall in the 18th century. Competition was fierce, but competitors like Gabbie had a great time trying.
The Grand Portage National Monument hosted another successful Rendezvous on August 12-14 with 152 tents set up in the voyageur encampment. There were participants from 20 states and four Canadian provinces taking part in a variety of activities harking back to the fur trade era of the early 1800s.
Part of the Rendezvous fun is the games played by voyageur re-enactors, and in some cases, the visiting public. There are contests for dainty and rugged voyageur, a bead hunt and the very entertaining “Throw the Dough.”
Jeremy Kingsbury and Booshway Stephen Veit hosted the Throw the Dough contest, with Kingsbury explaining that the game is loosely based on an entry in the journal of John MacDonald of Garth, who told the story of how he angered “a rather large clerk” who then tossed a loaf of bread at his head. That event has become a game today, with participants attempting to knock the hat off a scarecrow John MacDonald. The results of that game, as well as the other contests of Rendezvous follow.
The Dainty Voyageur competitors must do “women’s work”—haul water, kill an attacking “beaver,” sweep out the camp tent and button a gentleman’s jacket all while carrying a baby on their back. Left: Justine takes on the “rabid beaver” with a cast iron frying pan. Above: Hauling water is likely one of the most difficult tasks in the Dainty Voyageur contest, but Judy made it look fairly easy.
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