S.D. CHISLIC FESTIVAL: ‘ANOTHER HUGE SUCCESS’
JEREMY WALTNER – PUBLISHER
There was something in the air Friday night, July 29. Paul Wynia could just feel it.
“You could sense this excitement; the town was just abuzz,” said Wynia, who next month will mark 40 years as a resident of Freeman. “There were a lot of people out and about and you could tell that something special was going on. There was this feeling of electricity.”
That something in the air, of course, was anticipation for what was to come on Saturday, July 30, and, sure enough, that feeling of electricity carried over into what has quickly become one of the state’s largest single-day annual to-do’s — the South Dakota Chislic Festival.
The fourth iteration of chislic-centric celebration once again unfolded on the grounds of the Freeman Prairie Arboretum the last Saturday of July and was another smashing success. From the 10 a.m. opening ceremony on, hundreds made their way through this community’s most expansive parklike setting to eat, drink and be merry, and the festival billed as a family-friendly, safe and welcoming event lived up to its own high expectations.
“That’s the way we promote it and that’s the vibe we’ve created,” said Joann Smith, who has worked behind the scenes the last three years to develop a sound, efficient and effective infrastructure plan that is able to safely and responsibly accommodate the thousands who attend, and in a manner that is appealing to all. “It’s because of the kind of musicians we choose, and that there are activities for children.”
“The music really sets the mood for the festival,” said Jay Hofer, president of the South Dakota Chislic Festival Board of Directors, who had nothing but positive things to say about each of the acts that played throughout the day. “It really promotes the feeling that we’re after.”
Freeman Chief of Police Scott Brewer said there were no problems on Saturday whatsoever, which is unusual for an event of that size, particularly when alcohol is served.
“I think it’s out of respect for the grounds and respect for the people who put on the festival,” he said.
Things got underway shortly after 10 a.m. with the presentation of the colors by the state VFW, the national anthem and opening prayer, and by 10:45 music was filling the air. And by 11:30 a.m. it was officially busy as hundreds filled the main artery of the festival grounds south of the food vendors and filled the circus-like large tent where the Menno Fire Department was slinging beer.
Elsewhere, non-food vendors welcomed visitors, the Kid Zone accommodated families, the Parker FFA called out bingo numbers, Ian Tuttle and Marnette Hofer recalled the history of chislic, those looking for a little friendly competition could find it at one of two bean bag tournaments hosted by the Menno Pink Ladies Dart League, and nonstop trams carried festival-goers from off-site parking into the heart of the festival.
Meanwhile, volunteers worked both out in the open and behind the scenes to manage the thoroughfare of activity unfolding as temperatures climbed near 90 and a steady breeze offered both a challenge and relief.
And locals and out-of-town guests enjoyed a number of auxiliary activities — Friday night’s Lions Club BBQ, the Salem Mennonite Home Mutton Run first thing Saturday morning, and the special hours and activities at the adjacent Heritage Hall Museum & Archives.
Smith said numbers appear to be similar to last year, which came in between 8,000 and 10,000 based on garbage consumption, vendor sales and waste from the portable toilets.
“The food vendors who returned say they made as much or more than last year, and the people with Powers Porta Potties said ‘you certainly had equal to the number of people we had last year,’” said Smith. “To me it didn’t feel that way because it was so spread out over the day.”
Indeed, whereas the 2021 festival saw a wicked influx of people between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., which clogged the main corridor of the grounds, this year’s attendance was more spread out.
“And that’s how you want it,” said Hofer.
“We were thrilled with the number of people we had and we were happy that it was nice and steady all day long, rather than surges that overwhelm the grounds,” Smith added. “All of the people we have talked to talk about what a wonderful time they had. That they’re coming back. The vendors were all positive. People who had never heard of chislic say they’ll never miss it again. And we had first-time volunteers who said they will never miss it again.
“The fact that people are willing to come back supports the words that they ‘had a good time.’ I consider it another huge success.”
Among those attending the 2022 festival was Mitchell native and United State Representative Dusty Johnson, who was one of the judges that named Sheep Flockers of Parker and Big Orange Truck of Harrisburg winners in the traditional and “new age nosh” categories. Afterward, Johnson was mingling with folks under the beer tent and even stepped behind the counter to help the Menno Fire Department serve beer.
Speaking of the Menno Fire Department, Smith had nothing but positive things to say. “The Menno Fire Department went above and beyond; they came early and helped us set up, did what we asked them to do, and then stayed and helped tear down, which they didn’t have to do,” she said. “Some of them even came back on Sunday to help. That’s certainly above and beyond.”
Smith also was quick to credit Dustin Tschetter and those associated with the Phoenix Football/Sticks Baseball program who helped direct traffic, manage parking lots and serve drinks.
“I can’t give enough kudos to them,” she said. “Without them manning all of the parking and helping with traffic, you don’t have a festival.”
She also heard strong reports from the Miss South Dakota organization that staffed the Kid Zone, and Hofer said he received strong feedback from comments on Twitter and Facebook. And he knows of guests who came from neighboring Iowa to as far away as Germany.
All of it ended up being a result of extensive planning and a group of organizers and volunteers who did it right.
“A festival would be very easy to plan if you knew how many people were going to come and what the weather would be like,” said Smith. “And in the absence of those two pieces of information, it’s a lot of pre-planning by a lot of people, and some luck.”
And organizers are now taking what they learned on Saturday and will apply those lessons to future festivals. Like, better secure your tents to accommodate wind. Improve signage. Have individual arrows made that can point in various directions as needed. Wet down the entire gravel parking lot and not just the pathway that runs behind the food vendors.
Smith said she, too, was constantly jotting down notes to remember for later.
“It’s the little things that make the big things,” she said. “It’s being able to execute effectively and efficiently. You can have the vision, but if you can’t execute successfully, it’s not going to be right for the people. And we want to continuously improve and do better.”
“We get feedback, and we take it pretty seriously on how we can adjust and do things,” she continued. “Every year there will be something we can improve on.
“You need to build on your success and learn from your failures.”
As for Wynia, who the night before felt a surge of energy race through Freeman, on Saturday afternoon he stood there, looked around and marveled at what was taking place on the grounds of the Prairie Arboretum.
“You can’t help but feel a sense of Freeman pride, because when people set out to do something, they do it right,” he said. “And it takes a whole community. My hats off to Freeman Academy for allowing this festival to be on their grounds. And when you think about Schmeckfest, too, that makes for two of the state’s biggest festivals happening at the same place. That is absolutely unbelievable.”
