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Resort race winner

23 year old Jon Matalaga of Oceanside, CA, representing Thunder Lake Lodge, took first place in the Turtle Fest Resort Race. Photos submitted.

   Week 6 brought another hot summer day to Longville, but that didn’t stop the fun or the dedicated crew of volunteers that make Turtle Races happen each week.  

   Volunteers got to town long before the first racers arrived and were hard at work. They were putting up signs, moving trailers, closing off the road, setting everything up, and finally making sure the turtles were where they needed to be. It is all a big task–but year after year they handle it with ease. The event ran smoothly thanks to an army of volunteers who kept registrations moving, races organized and turtles circulating. If you’ve ever wondered how an event in a small-town involving hundreds of people runs so smoothly, the answer is simple: volunteers.

Turtle race champion

This week’s Grand Winner was two year old Chandler Kennedy from Nashville, TN. 

   The day started a little slow, but gradually picked up and before you knew it, the street was full and we were ready to get things going. Many people searched for shade and ice-cream, but others braved the heat and played games and danced. 

   We ended up with 296 racers, which was great considering the heat. If turtles could sweat, they certainly would have during week 6. 

Slow Poke champion

This week’s Grand Slowpoke Winner was nine year old McKade Krueger from New Prague, MN. 

   Families gathered around the circle and cheered loudly! It was another great summer afternoon filled with laughter, community, and one of Minnesota’s most unique traditions. 

   See you again next week!

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