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   As I sit with my first cup of coffee, my mind wanders to the thought of Longville waking up on race day. It’s early and I can envision Paul on his way to get the Turtle mobile and bring it into town..while some folks are still sleeping! On the other hand, Greg is checking out his supply of ice cream and other food goodies he needs to help feed the volumes of company he’ll have today. Across the street, Connie and her team are checking out the supplies for the yummy breakfasts she serves. Over at the coffee shop, Candy has been up since 4:00 baking and Thor is getting coffee supplies ready to wake up the town! Trisha and Shane likewise are up and at em tending to food, drink and mini golf. And the One Stop has been going strong for hours serving up gas, food, bait and coffee. And of course thinking of food for the fishies, Full Stringer is up at the crack of dawn. Erica at Lazy Days and Lisa at the Gallery of New Creations are checking out their supply of souvenirs that folks will purchase to remind them of their time in Longville. While the rest of the world is still snoozing!

Resort race winner...

Two and half year-old Kenny captured the win this week representing All Seasons Resort, pictured here with his dad. Photos submitted.

   What a great little town. The rest of the town wakes up a little at a time, until it’s 12:30 and Main Street swarms with the volunteers in their bright yellow Longville Turtle Race Tshirts and closes to traffic to be turned into a mini state fair! Then everything really gets heated up! You have to see it to believe it. Lots of games for the kids, a prize table absolutely loaded with toys, cotton candy, sno cones, lemonade, mini donuts and more! And, of course the turtle races themselves!!

Turtle race champion

This week’s Grand Winner was six year-old Benneh Zinda from Rosholt, WI. 

   This last week we entertained 359 racers and their families, for a total of about 1400 folks! Yikes...how do we do it? And, yet everything comes off smoothly!

Slow Poke champion

This week’s Grand Slowpoke Winner was 46 year-old Amber O’Neil from Chico CA, pictured with race announcer Gary Knox.

   By the time you read this, we’ll have had our July 3rd Turtle Race phenomenon....we are expecting about 700 racers and their families for a grand total of about 2800. We did it last year and we’ll do it again. We need to be off the street by 4:00 pm. So, from that 6:00 am start to 4:00 pm close, we’ll have had quite a day. Kudos to all!!!!

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