Plains bustles for annual celebration

The town of Plains was the place to be last weekend for music lovers, classic car enthusiasts, dancers, parade-goers, and children eager to fill their candy bags.

Organizers of this year's Plains Day celebration packed the day with family-friendly activities, offering visitors a choice of 63 vendors and nine food trucks. 

Fifty-one runners participated in the early morning 5K race, where the Costner family was well represented. Fifteen-year-old Simeon Costner captured first place with a time of 16 minutes, 20 seconds, while 17-year-old Savannah Costner finished first among female runners with a time of 22 minutes, 42 seconds.

Continuing a long-standing tradition, Plains VFW Post 3596 hosted its annual pancake breakfast for those getting an early start to the day's festivities.

As breakfast was winding down, parking spots along Railroad Street quickly filled in anticipation of the parade. An estimated 1,000 spectators lined the streets of Plains, many of them children holding empty bags ready to harvest this year's candy crop.

More than 60 entries participated in this year's parade, including Grand Marshals Sean and Jessica Peterson. Becky Fields and her Warrior Fitness float earned Best Overall honors. The South Side Sparks 4-H Club received the award for Most Enthusiastic Float, while Steve and Kathi Roque of Plains were recognized for the Most Patriotic Float.

Following the parade, attention shifted to the Plains Day Car Show, sponsored by Rehbein Ford. The event was held in the Dental Park, where attendees enjoyed both the vehicle displays and live music performances. Use of the park was donated by Blake and Dana Sherwood, owner of MT West Dentist.

Thirty-seven vehicles were entered in this year's show, ranging from a 1925 Ford Model T owned by Ken Matthiesen of Plains to a 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Best of Show honors went to a 1952 GMC 3100 owned by Cole Young of Arlee, while the People's Choice Award went to a 1969 Pontiac Firebird owned by Trenis McDonald of Plains.

Rounding out the Top 10 vote-getters were a 1959 Chevrolet Apache owned by Skip Richardson, a 1977 Ford F-250 owned by James Statton, a 1965 Shelby Cobra owned by Ken Saner, a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda owned by Jeff and Lee Suttorp, a 1944 Autocar C50 owned by Bill and Teri Harwood, a 1958 Chrysler Crown Imperial owned by Chuck Snow, a 1968 Ford Torino entered by Rehbein Ford, and a 1972 Chevrolet K10 Cheyenne owned by Wayne Lilly.

A new addition to this year's festivities was a laser tag event at Fred Young Park, sponsored by Waterway Ranch of Thompson Falls.

Another long-standing Plains Day tradition was the crosscut saw competition held in the parking lot of the VFW building on Lynch Street. Heather Allen, one of the event coordinators, said nine teams participated this year.

Hunter Fielders teamed up with Adam Hertz to win the Jack & Jack division with a time of 1:40.37, earning the $60 prize. Sisters Alida and Solveig Feiro won the Jill & Jill division with a time of 2:20.19, earning $10 each. Solveig Feiro teamed up with Isaiah Schork to capture first place in the Jack & Jill division with a time of 1:57.72.

Also taking place at Dental Park were the popular watermelon and pie-eating contests.

The watermelon contest featured competitors testing both their eating skills and stomach capacities. Participants were divided into three age groups. Six-year-old Kaysen Bright of Plains won the 7-and-under division, while 12-year-old Braegan Allen claimed the 8-14 division title for the second consecutive year. Seventeen-year-old Keily Hardy of Noxon took first place in the 15-and-over division in her first-ever watermelon eating contest.

Once volunteers finished cleaning up the aftermath of the watermelon contest, attention turned to the pie-eating competition. Em's Café in Plains supplied 20 huckleberry pies for the two-division event.

The children's contest was held first, with each participant facing a whipped-cream-covered pie. Eight-year-old Shiloh Pinter of Plains emerged victorious in the youth division. In the 15-and-over category, 32-year-old Aaron Harris of Heron took top honors, along with plenty of pie in his beard.

Plains Day concluded with a community potluck, dancing, and a limbo competition. The evening event was organized by Daniel and Roxsanna Ryan, their family members, and more than 25 volunteers.

Several local churches contributed facilities and volunteers to help make the event a success, including The Church on the Move, Plains Alliance Church, Plains Bible Church, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

More than 400 people took advantage of the community potluck dinner. Dan Ryan opened the evening by singing "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Eight-year-old Melody Owens of Plains won the children's limbo contest and received a $20 prize and a basket of candy. The adult limbo competition was won by 15-year-old Olena Kotewko of Hot Springs, who earned the $100 top prize. Luke Harmon of Missoula finished in second place and won a portable pickleball set.

8-year-old Shiloh Pinter took top honors in the Kids Pie Eating Contest. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott

18-month-old Rosa Steury and mom Larose Steury at the Plains Day Parade. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott

Master of ceremony Neuman Ryan award limbo contest winners Olena Dotewko, Melody Owens and Luke Harmon at Plains Day. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott

Neuman Ryan and Rayven Huffman dance at the community potluck and dance at Plains Day. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott

Haxel Warta and sister Indi wait for the candy to start flowing at the Plains Day Parade. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott

6-year-old Kaysen Bright wins the watermelon eating contest for the 7 and younger category at Plains Days. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott

SPA City Sound band member Chad Revier during a performance at Plains Day. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott

Most patriotic float by Steve and Kathi Roque of Plains. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott

Most patriotic float by Steve and Kathi Roque of Plains. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott