Young demo drivers take the stage
CALEB PEREZ | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year AGO
The young drivers in the Youth Power Wheels Demo Derby take a lap around the rodeo arena following their balloon fight. Mackenzie Cafferty, whose children are seen leading the group, said the event was a great opportunity for them to get out and drive around with other children their age.
CALEB PEREZ/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
One of the riders in the Youth Power Wheels Demo speeds his way back toward the action in his John Deere mower-style Power Wheels. Moses Lake Demo Derby organizer Aaron Schrodt said while it can be difficult to organize a group of children in an event like this, it’s important that the drivers have a fun time.
Two young derby drivers collide in the Youth Power Wheels Demo. The goal for the drivers was to pop the balloons strapped to the front of their rides.
A young girl watches some of the other demo drivers from her decorated pink Power Wheels.
The father of two boys drags his sons in their Power Wheels out of the arena following the Youth Power Wheels Demo. Some of the vehicles had some trouble getting through the mud.
A young girl in her Minnie Mouse-themed Power Wheels receives a trophy from Miss Coulee City Last Stand Rodeo Eryne Anderson after the Youth Power Wheels Demo concluded.
MOSES LAKE — Day two of the Moses Lake Demo Derby kicked off with a special exhibition, the Youth Power Wheels Demo, just before the main event.
“They love it,” said Mackenzie Cafferty, whose children participated in the event. “They don’t get to run into things at home, so it’s better for them to come out and run into other kids and have a good time.”
Cafferty said she got her two children, Wesley and Hadley, involved in the Power Wheels Demo Derby through her father, Stan Cafferty, who’s on the board of directors with Moses Lake Roundup and is heavily involved in the events that take place at the Grant County Fair. She said she enjoys having her children involved and staying with the family traditions.
The Power Wheels Demo had a driver weight limit of 60 pounds dressed and allowed up to two riders per car. The riders gathered around to try and pop each other’s balloons and then drove a lap around the arena before each receiving trophies and T-shirts from Miss Moses Lake Roundup Kaylee Stump.
Moses Lake Demo Derby organizer Aaron Schrodt said the event went very well again this year. He said everyone involved did a great job keeping things organized and that the youth drivers enjoyed the opportunity to get out on the main stage of the fair and compete.
“It’s always an adventure to try to herd a bunch of little kids on Power wheels on the main stage of the fair,” Schrodt said. “I feel like most of them had fun and that’s all that matters.”
The main goal for the event is for families from the crowd at the demo derby to get their younger children to participate in the action, he said.
“It’s not too often you get to be a little kid and be out in the middle of the arena and to maybe spark the next generation of demo drivers,” he said.
Schrodt said that the event has a limit of 25 drivers and that spots fill up fast when the event comes up. Families looking to get their children registered for future Power Wheels Demo events can sign up on the Moses Lake Roundup website when organizers begin preparing for the event next year.
One of the riders in the Youth Power Wheels Demo speeds his way back toward the action in his John Deere mower-style Power Wheels. Moses Lake Demo Derby organizer Aaron Schrodt said while it can be difficult to organize a group of children in an event like this, it’s important that the drivers have a fun time.
Two young derby drivers collide in the Youth Power Wheels Demo. The goal for the drivers was to pop the balloons strapped to the front of their rides.
A young girl watches some of the other demo drivers from her decorated pink Power Wheels.
The father of two boys drags his sons in their Power Wheels out of the arena following the Youth Power Wheels Demo. Some of the vehicles had some trouble getting through the mud.
A young girl in her Minnie Mouse-themed Power Wheels receives a trophy from Miss Coulee City Last Stand Rodeo Eryne Anderson after the Youth Power Wheels Demo concluded.ARTICLES BY CALEB PEREZ
Sushik comes full circle ahead of first season at BBCC
MOSES LAKE — The next step in Liana Sushik’s athletic journey has led her to play for the Big Bend Community College Vikings volleyball team this fall after a successful career with the Soap Lake Eagles. Joining the Vikings is something she feels has deepened her love for the sport, she said. “I fell in love with the fact that there’s more than just high school volleyball; there’s another level,” said Sushik. “It’s like a whole new chapter and I’m so excited to see what I have next because there’s a lot that I’ve been through to get here.” Despite her success on the court, Sushik said she didn’t initially start out as an athlete.
Building a community at Desert City Fitness
EPHRATA — The city of Ephrata welcomed its newest athletic club earlier this summer with Desert City Fitness setting up along Basin Street. Since their grand opening June 6, the club has worked to become a strong contributor to the community in Ephrata. “We just opened our doors and whoever comes in, that’s how we do it,” said Bryan Boney, owner of Desert City Fitness. Boney, who owns the club alongside his wife Tracy Fillion, decided to open Desert City Fitness to keep himself active after retiring six years ago. Boney said he has invested all his money from retirement into purchasing the property, remodeling and getting the equipment necessary to open his fitness center.
Grid Kids expands opportunities this season
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Grid Kids football program is gearing up for the start of its 26th football season this fall. This year, alongside their tackle football program, the Grid Kids have expanded their flag football options. “It’s one of those things that you just don’t really know how well it’s going to go, but right now we’re looking pretty strong,” said Brian Gwinn, the Gird Kids administrator and communications contact. The tackle opportunities remain the same for third through sixth grade with third and fourth graders playing together and fifth and sixth graders separately from the younger players. The format for third and fourth grade will remain at a regular 11-man game, but for fifth and sixth grade there is consideration for moving down to an eight-on-eight format.