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The Imperial FFA chapter won the organizations division and was picked overall Grand Champion in the Chase County Fair Parade Aug. 19. (Johnson Publications photo)

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The message at the back of the FFA float tied in with the parade theme, “Slow Ride Through Chase County.” (Johnson Publications photo)

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Kids scramble to get sprayed by this Imperial Rural fire truck as temperatures soared late morning during the parade. (Johnson Publications photo

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Imperial Zion Lutheran Church took first place in the religious division. (Johnson Publications photo)

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Kaitlyn Kent, who is the Phillips County (Colo.) Fair Queen, won first in the equestrian class. (Johnson Publications photo)

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Team Hot Wheels, which is raising money for a skatepark, took the top spot in the open class. (Johnson Publications photo)

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Imperial Manor chalked up the first place win in the business division. (Johnson Publications photo)

Parade at fair takes ‘slow ride’ through town

   Fifty-two entries, 50 corvettes and a group of motorcycles in this year’s Chase County Fair Parade entertained hundreds of people who lined Imperial’s streets for the Aug. 19 event.
    With hot temperatures, many watching along the route from the Imperial Manor through downtown sought shade during the 40-minute parade.
    Entries this year in five classes followed the theme, “Slow Ride Through Chase County,” using one of the title songs from the rock group Foghat, who performed at the Friday night fair concert.
    Grand Marshals included former fair board members along with KOGA’s John Brandt, who’s been covering the Chase County Fair for 48 years.
    First place winners in the equestrian, religious, organizations, business and open classes each won $50 in Chamber Bucks. Second place earned $25 in Chamber Bucks.
    The Imperial FFA reigned as Grand Champion of all entries, in addition to taking first in the business division. Their entry featured a ship and included the message at the back of the float, “Building Leadership Doesn’t Come Easy...It’s a Slow Ride.”
    Along with the $50 first place price, the FFA chapter earned another $75 as Grand Champion.
    It’s not an election year, so not many politicians were in town for the parade. But Chase County’s representative in the Nebraska Unicameral, Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango, participated, walking the entire route with members of his family.
    The Imperial and Lamar Volunteer Fire Departments were at the end of the parade. Water from their units cooled off a lot of happy parade watchers in the warm weather.
    The parade is coordinated each year by the Imperial Chamber of Commerce for the fair board.
    Here are the first and second place winners in each division.
    Organizations—1st and Grand Champion Imperial FFA; 2nd Imperial Education Association.
    Business—1st Imperial Manor; 2nd Broken Arrow Cellars.
    Religious—1st Imperial Zion Lutheran Church, no 2nd.
    Equestrian—1st Kaitlyn Kent, Phillips Co. Rodeo Queen, no 2nd.
    Open class—1st Imperial Team Hot Wheels; 2nd Stan Cross.

 

The Imperial Republican

308-882-4453 (Phone)

622 Broadway St

PO Box 727

Imperial, NE 69033