To the Editor:
The Luverne Area Chamber and CVB has successfully completed the 2016 Rock River Beerfest on Saturday, Aug. 20. With over 120 profiles of craft beer and wines, there were abundant flavors and tastes for everyone to enjoy.
The day might have seemed flawless to the people who attended the event at the Blue Mound Ice Arena, but that wouldn’t have happened without a lot of hard work by event planners and volunteers.
Beerfest Committee members included Verlyn and Tamie Hoff, Bill and Judy Miller, Rollie Miller, Patti Olson, Mark Ommen, Jordan Papik, Rick Peterson and Tim Gust. Chamber staff members Lorna Bryan and Jane Lanphere were the driving force behind all the paperwork and other details to make the day run smoothly.
Businesses organizations, like the city of Luverne, Blue Mound Ice Arena, Rock County Fair Association, Crossroads Trailer, Blue Mound Liquor, Doll Distributing, Beverage Wholesalers, Johnson Brothers, Jaycox, Big Top Tent Rental, Luverne Trolley and 30 beer and wine producers also played a role. Dave Van Batavia, as manager of the Ice Arena and as Public Works staff, made sure every need the committee had was met.
This year, Beerfest-goers enjoyed another great event spearheaded by the Rock County Star Herald’s Rick Peterson and staff. This tremendous event was the “Stein Holding Contest.” With special thanks to all the men and women who participated by seeing how long you could hold a five-plus-pound filled beer stein straight-armed shoulder high … participation in this event is sure to grow as stein-holders vie for the trophy (which will be on display at Take 16 Brewing Company).
Thirty different beer-pouring stations require a huge number of volunteers.
The team spirit of volunteering is always something Luverne should be proud of and this event is no different. Thanks to all the wonderful men and women who said, “yes” when they were called upon to help out.
One of our pouring teams, Tony and Lindsey Schomacker from Schomacker’s Cleaning (and soon Schomacker’s Appliance and Flooring), came up with another great idea to add to the day’s activities. Wait until you find out the details next year! These are the things that will make this event grow.
People came from Sioux Falls, Rock Rapids, Watertown, Brookings, Yankton, Bloomington, Pipestone, Slayton, Worthington, South St. Paul and other locations in the region and state.
These people stayed in our hotels, camped at the state park, bought gas in town, ate in our restaurants and spent money at our shops before they came. This event, like so many others, makes Luverne a “destination.” Every dollar they spent in Luverne brought $7 to our local economy.
Finally, I just want to say how proud I am to live in Luverne. This is a town where people come together to make things happen and we are envied by cities and towns throughout the tri-state region.
Thanks to everyone who lives in Luverne … where we “love the life!”
Larry Lanphere, Luverne
Rock River Beerfest Committee
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