Having hobo days fun
COWBOY AND HOBO DAYS
Fans enjoyed two days of listening to various bands at the Cowboy & Hobo Days Friday and Saturday at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds in Brainerd from The Shaffer Family to Cactus Willie, Boxcar Bob & The Drifter.
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On Saturday, fans sat in their lawn chairs or the bleachers at the main stage for non-stop music and fun.
A few fans took a moment to talk to a Dispatch staff writer about their experience.
Sharon Erickson
Age: 65.
Home: Fergus Falls.
Helen Wood of Staples celebrated after the pig she selected won a race at the Cowboy and Hobo Days Saturday. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.
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Who are you here to see? "The whole thing, but I graduated with Bruce Nelson of The Nelsons so I have to see them. We went to school in Pelican Rapids together."
What type of music do you like best? "I like the old country from the '50s and '60s."
What do you think about the Cowboy & Hobo Days? "This is awesome. We're here Friday, Saturday and Sunday camping and it feels like one big, happy family reunion."
Eleanor Root
Age: 66.
Home: Pillager.
Who are you here to see? "I really like Gary Timbs. I've never seen him before, and on Friday he sounded just like Jerry L. Lewis."
Cierra (left) and Miriah Duval laughed at the antics of Gary Dauer and his racing pigs at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds Saturday. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.
What type of music do you like best? "Country."
What do you think about the Cowboy & Hobo Days? "It's nice because it's close by and we didn't have to drive to another state to hear this type of music. All the bands here are so good that I don't want to go to my camper for a break because then I might miss something."
Roger Hoek
Age: 68.
Home: Comfrey.
Banjo player Casey Aro told stories and sang country songs from the stage during the Cowboy and Hobo Days at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds Saturday. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Who are you here to see? "There is no one in particular."
What type of music do you like best? "I like bluegrass and the real old country music."
What do you think about the Cowboy & Hobo Days? "We'd drive 500 miles to go to a festival like this. We've been to festivals in Missouri and Nebraska. This one is close, plus we have friends here to camp with."
Roy Heppner
Age: 67.
Home: Brainerd.
Who are you here to see? "Everybody."
What type of music do you like best? "Country mostly, but I like gospel and bluegrass too."
What do you think about the Cowboy & Hobo Days? "I think it's a good thing. This is clean, good recreation. You can meet friends out here and see local talent."
Joyce Domrase
Age: 62.
Home: Brainerd.
Who are you here to see? "I'm here for the whole event. I'm here helping my husband (Dale, who works at the fairgrounds) with the campers and to make sure everything goes well. We have 29 campers here. I enjoy the music and great people come to this type of event."
What type of music do you like best? "I like country music that tells a story. On Friday Red Johnson sang, 'Sunday will come again' and I just cried."
Making the journey from Leader, Gary Dauer's racing pigs make their way around the race track during Cowboy and Hobo Days Saturday at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds. The racing pigs made the transition from the permanent track at the Bear's Den in Leader to a portable track in Brainerd. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.
What do you think about the Cowboy & Hobo Days? "I think it's going to grow when people realize how wonderful it is and how cheap it is. All the bands have a special relationship with everyone. It will be back next year. These bands are not here to make money, they're out to get together and have fun. "
Loretta Ruschmeier
Age: 71.
Home: Isle.
Who are you here to see? "The Shaffer Family, we're pretty good friends. We've heard them before and they're pretty friendly people."
What type of music do you like best? "Bluegrass and country."
What do you think about the Cowboy & Hobo Days? "This is great. We don't have a lot of this going on around here. This is good, clean entertainment."
Robert Larson
Age: 75.
Home: Isle.
Who are you here to see? "All of them, none in particular."
What type of music do you like best? "I like it all."
What do you think about the Cowboy & Hobo Days? "I think it's a good deal."
Paola Jo Sederquist
Age: 45.
Home: Brainerd.
Who are you here to see? "The whole works, but I know The Shaffer Family. We've known them for a long time."
What type of music do you like best? "Bluegrass."
What do you think about the Cowboy & Hobo Days? "We really enjoy these festivals. We go to many of them. We like the family type atmosphere."