Because I have a hankering to load myself into a Woody and travel two lane highways to see what I can see, I thought about writing a TV series featuring small town America.  I was bummed when I was told that it was already being done which I probably would have known if I ever watched TV.  

Before I learned that I was late to the idea of the two lane highway I bought three books from Amazon and they are such fun:  Eccentric America by Jan Friedman, Two for the Road by Jane & Michael Stern and Road Trip USA by Jamie Jensen. 

One of the things that I love about small towns is that they all have a claim to one kind of celebration or another.  

A few years' ago my daughter and I took my father who is suffering from Alzheimers back to his home town.  Because, of course, Alzheimers wipes out short term memory before long term memory, he had a blast and he entertained us with wonderful stories of the town as he knew it as a boy growing up there.  

While were there visiting his hometown of Frazee, Minnesota (pop. 1409) there were billboards all over reminding everyone of the upcoming Frazee Turkey Days.  Yep.  Turkey Days.  That is what Frazee, Minnesota is known for.   Here is a little bit about it for you in case you want to make the trip!  

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From the online community newspaper the Frazee Forum -

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Turkey Days grand marshal needed


Nominations for the Turkey Days grand marshal are due by Monday, June 2, and can be mailed to PO Box 276, Frazee, MN 56544 or e-mailed to turkeydays@hotmail.com.

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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Newling aims for 'good show' as new coordinator for Turkey Days demo
Prize purse grows and rules change


• by Lori Fischer Thorp

It's a new face for an old favorite: Brenton Newling will take on the challenge of coordinating this year's Turkey Days demolition derby.

"I heard a rumor around town that there wasn't going to be a derby," Newling said.

That particular rumor happened to be a fact. Following the 2007 Turkey Days, the Frazee Lions announced they would no longer run the Sunday afternoon event which has long been a cornerstone of the four-day weekend.

Lion Eldon Bergman made the motion to discontinue the club's coordination role with the derby.

"Our Lions Club members are getting older, and putting on a derby is very physical, and we just have too many things going on during Turkey Days to cover everything," Bergman said.

"We certainly hope it goes well for him, and any way we can help, we'd be happy to. We've been asked to serve beer, and we plan to," he said regarding this year's July 24-27 celebration.

Bergman is the club's president-elect and will take the club's helm July 1, so he'll see the group through its annual Friday night street dance which is one of Turkey Days highlight events.

Newling, a 2004 Frazee High School/MSCTC grad and rural Frazee resident, said he remembers prior derby years "when there were so many people there that you couldn't get through the area."

He said he met with the event's former coordinator, Lion Gary Negen, who passed on information from previous years.

Newling worked in a few changes for this year's format which he hopes will draw an increased number of competitors and spectators.

"The rule structure will follow the one in Detroit Lakes," Newling said, including requirements for welding all the doors shut, bolting the hood down, and welding the trunk shut.

"I'm working on trying to look for more sponsors so we can have a good prize purse, and getting people lined up to help," Newling said. He's also working on getting concrete blocks lined up to surround the arena, as opposed to the logs which were used in the past.

"The prize money's going up, too," Newling said. Prizes for the full-size class will be $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place.

The consolation champion will take home $50 and a trophy, and the purses for the Imperial and four-cylinder classes are contingent upon how many cars show up.

Newling said he "definitely" thinks the changes will attract more drivers. "The numbers have been down the last couple years due to the rules," he said.

"Frazee was the only derby where you had to chain cars. You couldn't weld them, so you couldn't run them derby to derby, and people like the big prize money," he said.

The location, he said, will remain the same, at the corner of Main Avenue which is alongside the railroad track and across from the goose pond.

"I think people like the experience of going out there and seeing what it would be like," Newling said. "It's kind of a rush."

He knows that rush first-hand, having driven in the Frazee derby three times.

He was 16 when he first entered. "I ran in a four-cylinder class and I didn't make it out of the heat. Then I went to the consolation but didn't make it out of the finals," he said. He's also driven in Detroit Lakes, Barnesville and Wadena derbies.

"I always used to go to them when I was a kid," he added of the Turkey Days smash-ups. "I liked all the hard hitting and loud pipes and stuff like that." His dad, Glen Newling, also drove in and helped with the contests.

Now, Brenton Newling will be relying on the help of his fiance to carry out much of the work associated with the event. "It's a big job," the Lakes Paving employee said.

In addition to the Lions serving beer, the Wrestling Boosters will have concessions, and the Frazee Fire Department and Frazee Rescue Squad will also be on hand to help. Vince Bachmann will do the announcing, Newling said.

"It'd be nice to get 40 full-size cars. That's my ultimate goal," Newling said. "That'd be four heats of 10."

Mainly, he added, he's looking forward to "having fun and getting a good turn-out of cars, and just really putting on a good show."

Potential drivers and sponsors can contact Newling at 218-849-7820. Copies of the rules are available at United Community Insurance and All in All in Frazee.

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Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Entrants sought for Turkey Days parade


Those who would like to be part of the annual Turkey Days parade are urged to sign up. The Frazee Community Club invites all interested parties to participate by entering units in the event.

The parade line-up will get underway at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 27, with the parade set to start at 2 p.m. The location will again be near the elementary school, with positions assigned at that time.

Organizations and individuals must furnish their own transportation and signage on the vehicles. Frazee Bucks will be awarded to the top four units, with prizes of $100, $75, $50 and $25. Judging will be based upon originality, workmanship and spirit.

Entries are due by July 23 or reservations can be confirmed by calling 334-3388 (daytime). Mail should be directed to: FBP, 11684 Woods Drive, Frazee, MN 56544, or email fettbros@loretel.net

Entries are taken on a first-come, first-served basis but may be varied. Horses will be at rear of parade, with no exceptions.

Also earlier that day, the turkey luncheon will start at 11 a.m. in the Frazee Event Center. It is a chance for an excellent meal in air-conditioned comfort.

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Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Turkey Days food vendor meeting set Tuesday night


Local organizations with food booths for Turkey Days are reminded to meet Tuesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. in the White Pine Room. This year, the Frazee Area Community Club hopes to supply all the food needs for Turkey Days with local organizations so clubs could raise funds for their various projects. It's essential all clubs have a representative at this meeting so the FACC knows if all the food needs will be met, says co-chair Rita Stelzer.

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                Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Contestants sought for Jr. Miss Frazee


Candidates for the second Annual Jr. Miss Frazee Pageant are being sought. The Jr. Miss Frazee Pageant will be held Thursday, July 24 at 7 p.m. during the annual Turkey Days celebration.

Jr. Miss Frazee 2008 must be a Frazee High School student entering grades 9, 10, or 11. All contestants will participate in personal interview (25 percent), an opening number (not judged), talent (40 percent), evening wear (25 percent) and on-stage interview (10 percent). Awards will be given to Miss Congeniality, interview winner, evening gown winner, and talent winner. A second runner-up, first runner-up, and Jr. Miss Frazee will be chosen.

All proceeds from the pageant will go to the Frazee Fly Girls Dance Team program.

Jr. Miss Frazee 2008 will reign for one year and represent the Frazee community and Frazee High School at local events. Anyone interested in becoming a contestant, should contact Ta Fett on or before June 13 at 334-2641. 

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Vic & Minerva Anderson 'tickled pink' over grand marshal invitation
Couple has served in amazing range of Turkey Days capacities

 by Lori Fischer Thorp

Vic and Minerva Anderson's efforts have ranged from grilling turkeys and opening their home for queen candidates to loaning their convertible for parades, all to benefit Frazee's Turkey Days.

Volunteers at the event nearly since its inception, they nonetheless were puzzled when Frazee Area Community Club President Tom Watson called to ask for a few minutes of their time last Friday.

"Both of us wondered what the dickens he wanted," Minerva said. "We were pretty sure he wasn't going to sell us a tent."

They reviewed whether or not they'd paid their annual Club dues, and whether or not they'd made their regular contribution to the Frazee Fire Department.

When Watson arrived, they were further surprised to see him accompanied by 2008 Turkey Days co-chairs Rita Stelzer and Bonnie Julius. One of them came in carrying two of the newly-printed Turkey Days shirts.

Then, Watson popped the question and asked if the Andersons would serve as grand marshals for this year's Turkey Days, which will run July 24-27.

"Were they ever excited," Watson said. "This is one part of my job (as Club president) that I really love."

"We felt quite honored," said Vic Monday, as he and Minerva recalled the many Turkey Days experiences they'd had.

They'd moved to Frazee in 1951, and the first Turkey Day (minus the "s" at the end) in 1954 and several following that "were free," Minerva said, with local businesses footing the bill for a large luncheon and a day of related events.

Since its inception the festivities have also included coronation of a queen, with that title transitioning to Miss Frazee in later years.

The Andersons have met many of the young ladies vying for that title, as they hosted many year's worth of the queen candidates' pre-pageant activities.

"It was a big deal," Minerva said. "All those young gals wanted to be a queen."

They also helped put the celebration's luncheon on the table, both literally and figuratively.

Initially, Minerva said, "everyone baked a turkey. When I brought my turkey back, they asked if I had cut off a wing or a leg. I said, 'No,' and they said, 'Well, most people feel they should have something for the baking.'"

The cooking method evolved, Minerva said, so that Vic and Marvin Mickelson would begin at 5 a.m. on the morning of the luncheon to cook 100 turkeys two-per-grill on 50 Weber grills on Main Avenue.

"I'd say, 'You have to come to church,' so they'd come to church in their aprons and sit in the back row," she said.

The Andersons also helped with food preparation including the cutting and boning of the meat. It's been just the last two years, said Minerva, that they haven't helped with those tasks. (She'll be 90 in December, and he'll be 88 June 21.)

"When you're younger, you're involved in these things. When you're older, you just keep plugging away," Minerva said. "A person gets involved in projects, and that's what you do."

"The cooperation was wonderful," Vic emphasized.

Other activities the Andersons were heavily involved in included 4-H and school and church activities.

Vic sold New Idea farm equipment for 17 years, and afterward was self-employed in equipment sales for many more years. The Andersons traveled by motorhome and covered a 43-state territory.

"Those were the days," Minerva said.

"We covered everything but the northeast states," Vic said. He and Minerva added that they'd also been to Alaska, and "We think we've traveled, but these young people are really well-traveled by comparison."

Still, they added, "It's always nice to come home. There's no place like it."

Home, Minerva said, has been a unique situation for the Andersons. "We've lived in three different homes on Town Lake," she said, adding that their current townhome isn't really on the lake, but across the street from it.

Those lake locations made their home an ideal spot for many skating and sliding parties for area kids. Minerva also dealt with many students as a music teacher at school.

She was later a substitute teacher, and also served on the Frazee School Board during the planning time when the 1957 high school was built.

In more recent times, they've both volunteered for the Neighbor to Neighbor program.

Vic was a strong promoter of the Frazee Golf Course, and in their lifetimes of service to the community they've often recognized that no job is too small to be well-done.

For years, Vic trimmed the hedge around the downtown turkey statue.

One day, he said, someone walked by and assumed he was employed to do the work.

"I'd sure like to have my hedge trimmed," the person said, hinting at a possible additional job.

"I told him, 'The city pays me $17 an hour,' and he just kept on walking," Vic laughed.

The Andersons' principal job, though, has been enjoyment of their family.

Their daughter and son, Roxann (Daggett) of Frazee and Jon of Fargo, were young when the local celebration was launched.

"Roxann was in the kiddy parade, and so was Jon, with his bike," Minerva said.

Vic built a soap box racer for Jon, back when that event was held on the steep hill which began at the former water tower site, near the Methodist Church.

"The kids had so much fun," Minerva said, "but I can't remember either of them climbing a greased pole."

She can, however, "remember when the live turkeys were thrown off the roof of the Baer building. If you caught one, you could keep it."

Through the years, the Andersons lent their convertible for use in area parades, led 4-Hers in song at the Junior King and Queen pageant, and watched their family grow.

"We have five grandchildren, and we have six great-grandchildren," Minerva said.

And they now know, too, that they have the appreciation of their community.

"It was a real surprise," Vic said of the grand marshal invitation, which was to be officially revealed at the Community Luncheon yesterday (Wednesday, June 11.)

"I think Victor was tickled pink, and so was I," Minerva said.

"Everyone likes to be recognized," Vic said, adding, "We should have kept the convertible."

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Turkey Days chairs reveal shirt design

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Turkey Days co-chairs Rita Stelzer (left) and Bonnie Julius (right) give a T-shirt and button to Dianne Bachmann (center) of Perham. Bachmann drew the design for the shirts. Photos by Barbie Porter