Skyla Sittig, 9, of Big Rock knew the weather this weekend was going to go well beyond iffy, but said there was no stopping her when it came to participating in the annual bike parade Friday evening during the 131st annual Plowing Match and Festival in Big Rock.
“Once I finish this, we’re going to go on the carnival rides,” she said. “My mom’s buying a weekly ticket.”
Members of the Big Rock Plowing Match Association met Friday morning and elected to let the show go on this weekend despite the forecast of persistent rain.
“We met with the association board and a representative from the Big Rock Park District because they also hold a significant amount of events,” Denise Farrugia, who serves as the secretary and handles marketing and communications for the association, said on Friday. “We are pressing forward because we don’t want to disappoint the community.”
For the latest updates on the fest, go to the association’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bigrockplowingmatch/
The signature plowing event scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday was cancelled as field conditions would be compromised by the elements.
“Things like the auction will be held at the stage and seating for it, as well as the Sunday church service will be held under a pavilion so people won’t be outside,” Farrugia said on Friday.
“As far as the plowing match – the plowmen and their families and the legacy of those families plowing – we have families that are fourth- and fifth-generation plowmen and plowwomen involved,” she said. “There was disappointment there as hundreds of people watch the plowing over the two days.”
The annual event includes food, carnival rides, music, crafts and a variety of activities. The wet conditions this weekend may have a bright side, according to Farrugia.
“The mud volleyball scheduled for Sunday should be absolutely hilarious,” she said.
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A big crowd took advantage of Friday’s dry but cloudy conditions to take part in the annual bike parade, as dozens of cyclists lined up near the Big Rock Fire Barn before setting out towards the carnival rides that awaited them less than a mile away at the festival.
Skyla said waiting for the school day to end on Friday was tough, knowing the festival was just hours away.
“I couldn’t wait for the day to end and now I’m here,” she said.
Her father Dan said he and his family have made the plowing match a tradition and that “as soon as my kids could start riding without hurting themselves, we’ve been coming over here.”
“The community still comes out. It doesn’t get old and everyone just loves to show up,” he said. “We’ll all go over and we’ll cut the kids loose. They do some rides and we’ll have some food.”
Once the bike parade was over on Friday, many moved inside the park grounds where the carnival rides, food, craft tents and a new adult axe throwing event awaited.
Anthony Ritchie of Big Rock came with his wife and their six children to the event.
“I’ve moved away to a few places but we came back after a couple of years,” he said. “This, in terms of the fabric of the community, it’s tremendous. The kids look forward to it every year and do their little arts and crafts and things. I know the plowing isn’t happening but our kids, as long as the rides are open a little bit it won’t be a loss.”
Anthony’s wife Kelsey Ritchie described the event “as very traditional and it brings our family and friends together.”
“It brings a lot of joy,” she said.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.