this is the Farmington feed bringing you information from the city of Farmington hi and welcome back to the Farmington feed I'm Karen H Nikki the city's Communications specialist and I'm hungry for another episode of the feed we have Christy Kerr and H Shear with us today to discuss the hometown celebration due days welcome thank you hello you excited to have you guys excited to be here exactly okay so we're going to focus on due days because that's coming up really quick it is should we be excited or frightened know it depends on the day yes maybe a little of both yes there's so many questions I have okay although I did experience some of it last year and not all of it and I'm sure there's new people to town that don't know anything about it so here we are so this is event has been going on for 45 years correct yeah yes yeah 1979 was the first due days and it was Mountain Dee days right so what's the what's the deal with that well back in the day PepsiCo came to the city of Farmington and said hey you guys do you know that you drink the most Mountain Dew per capita in the nation okay right and so they said we will give you sponsorships if you host Mountain Dew days as a celebration and that's where it all began okay so Mountain Dew they don't sponsor us anymore it's so sad we've tried yeah and I don't think we drink the most Mountain Dew do they still drink a lot of Mountain Dew around here no hence the due days I think they cut off the the mountain C once the money stopped coming right um so tell me a little bit about how you guys got started um H you want to start oh sure involvement I mean right right so my oldest was selected as a 2006 Miss Farmington so I little taste there but then in 2011 when my youngest was selected as Miss Farmington I got more of a taste there and was asked to sit on the board of the Farmington Ambassador group and uh from there was you know sit in on the meetings for due days and then it just snowballed on me all you're in charge Co and here here I am today yes Christy how about you well um I Pastor Homestead Community Church with my husband so I've lived in Farmington for 20 years but our church has been in the area for 10 years and so we've always you know been a part of it we've always had teams in the bed races and so when we bought the Exchange Bank building in Downtown Farmington in 2019 we started kind of getting more involved so my husband served on the committee for a few years just cuz it we're right there and we're like everybody's right here we might as well be involved and so we've really looked our church is very community-minded we want to always be a part of how can we help and serve in the community and so um last year I decided to to jump on the committee and and help out and then got a bigger role yes it's snowballs it snowballed quickly but it's okay because I've had a blast it has been so much fun I love the part Farmington is such a unique community in that it really still feels like a small town right and due days is the epitome of that it really feels like a Small Town Festival when everybody comes together and I was reading a study a few years ago about after covid and how people kind of went in their Corners everybody was really isolated and it was talking about the importance of communal experiences right of people experiencing things together having shared experiences and so this is just such an important time that our whole Community comes together the businesses help run things the fire department the police department the the schools the community uh organizations they all come together and are enjoying the same things over the weekend so to me it's it's an incredible value to the community and so I've just loved being a part of it well it sounds like that's part of why this tradition has gone on for so long because everybody supports it and he involved yeah well it does take a village correct especially a big event like this so you guys always need volunteers so how do you recruit them how do you keep them how do you keep it running smoothly yeah so this year we instituted a new part of due days called dollars for doers which is actually new um if you're around you know how many Community organizations we have that are trying to fundraise all the time so from sports teams to other organizations part of our mission statement is to um support Community groups and uh a sense of of community in Birmington so we felt like this would be a great way to kind of help some groups so um we have openings for groups to come in and serve as volunteers at due days and then we track their hours and at the end we'll make a donation back to their organization okay that's great so we're doing that you know everybody's very busy so finding just people that can come and you know run a bouncy house is harder to do so we decided to kind of be strategic about it and make it something that then also still supports things in the community but we also have a large committee that has worked all year meeting monthly all year long um just different parts of the community that serve and volunteer so we have people that volunteer you know for to help plan the whole thing and the time of but we're we're excited about dollars for duers this year that's kind of a new thing oh for sure like getting an organization to come because if you have an organization they can recruit their own right and say we're going to have this many people here and it's really helpful all around yeah and they get a little donation on many hands make light work then I don't have to buy so many of those little CS s when they come to my door cuz I can't say no like 10 for all the sports the yeah where you get discounts at different places right and then I forget I have them soing we can help it out this year so do you have any super volunteers like people that are just literally there all weekend aside from the committee and yourselves Gary Rutherford sits on the committee but he he's a diard he'll be there from sun up to sun down for sure uh it seems like Josh hoit will probably show up from up the sun down and he's usually the one that wants to keep the band going longer he's guilty of that I mean I when I think now they're on our committee but Dave and Doren Kennedy I mean I think they're on every Committee in Farmington but Dorene we were just talking about Dorene knows everything about Farmington she knows everything that's ever been done she knows every organization so maybe she needs to be on our next episode because I just asked her Dorian is anybody writing down all the stuff that you know cuz she remembers everything and so she serves on our committee and she just man the logistical mind and the history and so she knows everybody she's connected I don't do anything until Daren tells me yes so that she's my super volunteer for sure awesome sponsors are a huge part of this community event so can you explain a little about the importance of them and how you can become a sponsor if you're not already well right now I counted this morning we have 32 sponsors as of right now what's important is you no this is a nonprofit group so the Farmington area enhancement group is who puts on due days I think sometimes people think the city puts it on but it's actually a non no it's a nonprofit group that works all year long and so you know we do generate some Revenue through some of the things but the majority of the overhead to put on due days to get the tent up and to get the streets blocked off and to to purchase all the all the signage and everything that we do that that costs money and so the Farmington businesses really show up and donate to help cover a lot of that overhead so it really wouldn't be possible without it um it doesn't come from tax dollars or any kind of big bucket of money somewhere at the city it really comes from the people of Farmington investing back into helping create this Festival so we have a a page on our uh website where you can find out more about how to be a sponsor there's all kinds of different levels and then in turn we get to highlight them on our marketing materials we get to highlight them throughout the event and again it's a win-win it helps give visibility to the amazing businesses in our community and they help us to be able to put on an event for the people in Farmington and that uh your website is Farmington MN days.com right it changed a little bit from last year yeah so we added the MN in there so give that a whirl if you're finding it for sure I had a problem getting on even the MN one and we were so confused like what's happening I know it's it's been kind of which is probably super frustrating for you guys cuz then you can't get your word out correct yes but then you can always email info at at Farmington days.com and we get those emails and we'll be happy to respond lots of hey I can't find this and we can help you get connected oh awesome I'm sure there's new events this year outside of the dollar for doers so you guys want to talk about any of those oh yeah Friday night we're going to have a family block party which includes a movie so that's do we know what movie yet or it's the sand lot they just let me know yes so that's going to be on the homestead lot so that'll be outside and you can bring your blankets and sleeping bags and watch it outside oh how fun yep so that's going to be my favorite movies family movie yes so Farmington young life is sponsoring that so there that was what they picked and I'm like solid Choice good job um so the family block party Friday night we be like a dance party we've got tons of giveaways for the kids and things like that yep we'll have a tractor a tractor actual tractor Drive similar to the car drive that comes but a tractor drive and then they'll come like a cruise show kind of right and they'll come downtown and park for the kids to all see yeah oh so Saturday we're kind of highlighting the agricultural side of our community because it's really fun we do have kind of the city part of Farmington and the suburb part but we have a ton of people that are still involved in the agricultural side of our city and so they've really engaged this year so they're doing a corn pit we're kind of Saturday night we're having a big ho down so we have a live band coming we're going to have a Street dance downtown mechanical bull a wild west shootout we're having a tractor pull during the day yes yep UHA is going to bring in a farm animals okay for those that don't know what FAA is a future well FFA sorry there we go Future Farmers of America yes and the alumni is who's doing the tractor drive so and the kids will be able to come see they have antique tractors and the big tractors so that's kind of a fun thing oh and then another really cool event is Marshall lines does what's called Big Rig which is Friday night before the bed races downtown and they are bringing in a ton of like big trucks and things like that for kids to be able to go see so that's kind of a part to he's he's done that the last couple years but I think sometimes people don't know that there's that event going on to what location is that at it's at Marshall lions at their on Highway 50 yeah so and he's been very excited that you can drive a school bus there if that's always been one of your lifelong dreams you can drive a school bus during the big rig event I know kie is very excited to try not done it yet but I might this year that sounds really fun so um how do you decide on the events that are going to happen each year I mean there's some obviously that always happen right correct obviously there's popular ones that are tradition that you know people really demand that come back and after that I think it just comes from a lot of input from the community and people who come on the committee and maybe we see something at another festival or things like that that ideas start swirling in the fall about what next year's due days will look like okay I know there's something for everyone yes definitely how many of these events can you name in 15 seconds I know we were talking about oh I bet I could go do a lot all right I'm going to put the timer on okay okay let me start you have to say go you we rapid fire okay I'll go and then you go okay okay ready go coronation thirsty Thursday Bingo bed races uh movie family movie night big rig the due days run family block party there's a waffle breakfast all right that's 15 seconds oh we that that was fast yeah I know right that but you got like nine nine events so I mean that was harder than I thought my brain started to panic right I mean you got to know all your events right I know I stare at the I stare at them all day long so you it's funny how my brain short circuited a little bit and I put the pressure on that's okay the timer all right so this is really what I wanted to talk about because I thought this event is hilarious interesting and probably like just fun for everybody is kiss the pig kiss the pig it's a favorite it's a family fan favorite I thought so so I did get to witness it last year so I do understand what happens but for those that don't that are listening um how does that work sure it's a fundraiser for the Rambling River Center which is senior center it's been going on it's got to be older than the year 2000 okay we just we'll figure that out it yes exactly but it's definitely 2000 and older okay but it's an event that they put donation cans out at area businesses and so when you're there let's say at Dairy Queen and you buy your Dilly bar and you have an extra 15 cents you can put it in the can and it's a contest and whoever raises the most money then gets the benefit of kissing the pig right okay but now there's an online option as well there is yes I love it um Missy was really excited about that yes and it's on the website so you can link go on there and and vote for whoever you want by giving online yeah that's awesome okay so how are the challengers decided and do they get nominated or how does that work missy colbeck is is the ultimate decider so I don't get on her yes good side or don't get on her bad side I don't know if it's the honor or punishment I mean last year they did like handcuffs and it was like whoever's key unlocked right yes was the winner regretfully when Gary put the cuffs on me I was like what is this all about cuz I was not informed what was going on so they don't always do that no it's different every year how they reveal the winner it's a different type of skit that they come up with oh okay and and I know that the pig is Betty and that Betty was there last year y um so we're excited about Betty coming back Betty Betty's really something very hairy is very very big um and I know Pam McCarthy won last year who do you guys think is going to win this year oh that's really tough when I looked at the list I'm like thank goodness I ran last year and not this year so it's a tough feel I would lean towards Bradley Marisa mhm well there was some like comments on him once I posted that yeah I'm guessing that he's going to that he'll take it but you never know sometimes you're surprised I'm I'm Gary I'm sorry oh that's true Gary the bird I'm sorry I'm going to be cheering for you yeah well last year my husband Jeff was one of them and it was so fun cuz the kids in our church were like on a mission and they would come up to him just mocking him we put $5 in your C like they were so excited so it really is a fun part of the event that everyone enjoys um okay so then let's go and talk about what your favorite part of due days is oh okay H you want to go first it's it's definitely community and and coming together and you know living being a part of Farmington for so long you're involved in different groups along your life's path and some of these people you don't might not see for quite some time that maybe were close to you when your kids were in soccer as an 11year old and now some you see Med du days and it's just it's so fun to reconnect with everybody that you don't typically get to run into you know on a daily or weekly basis that's my favorite part yeah about you um I I love the parade I just think it's such a fun part of it to see all the people in the community show up and to walk down the streets and in our idic downtown it just it's like it's like out of a movie I mean honestly it's just so sweet you have everybody sitting along all the businesses show up and are handing out candy and it's fun to see all of the different parts of the community together and I think the parade is the part where you actually get to see them all you know there's all kinds of events during due days where different places are highlighted but at the parade it's like one by one you get to see all the really cool things that make Farmington special well let's hope it doesn't rain like it did last year we just made it last year I was going to say you haven't lived here long because that's almost tradition for us it rains on the parade day uh about 50% usually and I've been involved in the prade since 2011 and it will pour and by some miracle the minute stops raining it's happened many years it's a days Miracle yes most events are free but I know there's some that cost a little bit of cash um are there any that you want to highlight just to remind people that they need money for yeah there's a lot of free events there's a lot of things that are open to everybody but there are a few things where you're going to need to have a little extra cash so the food trucks The Artisan Market you know the vendors obviously you're going to have to purchase things there but then our family fund Zone where there's Inflatables and games for the kids those are going to be um you'll have to purchase a RIS band or time for that to be able to do that and then some of the extra stuff like the bull you're going have to pay a little bit but it's not you know it's nothing huge um and hopefully we've made a lot of free things that everybody can be involved in and then there's just if you want to do some of those extra things you might want to bring a little extra cash we'll have some extra cash machines going downtown and new this year all of our vendors will have digital payment methods so you can bring me yes I know cash I know so this kind of we put that in the contracts this year so everyone should be able to take your cards awesome year um parking I'm sure it's an issue what do you guys what do you guys recommend or suggest to attendees that planning them coming down come early and wear comfortable shoes oh there you go yeah yes yeah you can park in any of the City parking lots you know there's lots of street parking um there's different places uh you know the general downtown area will be closed so you'll have to park a little bit outside of the general area and then walk um some people have parked over at Bachman and walked over so it's not you know it's not far either way um but yes parking is always is always a challenge so God be with you get those walking shoes on your shoes on or make somebody drop you off I like that oh I like that a lot yeah maybe next year we should have a dollar's for doer valet system maybe that's oh there you go somebody a little extra money make a little extra money like at the fair when everyone parks on their lawns and stuff right St all right so this is my favorite question to always ask on every podcast is like what's the funniest thing that's happened so usually it's in somebody's position but now I'm going to ask you guys what's the funniest thing that's happened at due days that you can remember the one that I remember the most had to do deal with rain it was in 2012 the 2012 Parade and it poured again and it stopped right before parade stepped off and towards the front of um the parade was a semi and the rain had it had rained so hard that one of the electrical lines was sagging MH and the truck hit the electrical line which then made the parade completely divert down different roads and the people scrambling from other areas that weren't the parade wasn't going to get to to those other streets it was pretty entertaining good oh wow I don't have a funny story yet maybe I will after this year oh I'm going to guarantee it oh goodness okay so any other information um you guys think is important for people to know about due days um how to get around how to pay for stuff any any of that I mean we covered most of it but anything we missed um I would say follow our social medias where doing lots of posts about the specific events so we have a Facebook page and an Instagram page there's lots of information there that you can find um and then on the website you know there's event lineups there's all kinds of information on there but just just come and come once and then come back there's we have jam-packed the schedule full from really Thursday night and there's a couple things that happened earlier in the week like the ambassadors and then the library does a few events for kids earlier in the week but um we've jam-packed the whole weekend so that you can come and then one thing will lead into another it will lead into another just plan on staying the whole time just plan on stay age eat breakfast lunch dinner we got you covered we will be there okay I well I'm sure we'll see you around yeah so there'll be um even from Saturday morning the waffle breakfast then we have the kids jollypop so in the morning we've we've scheduled a lot of stuff for younger kids in the mornings just so that they can kind of get their fun and then go home and have a nap and then there's stuff going on the afternoon we have the ho down Saturday evening and then the live band under the big tent for the grown-ups will be going into the late hours so there's something for everybody so just check out all of our our sites and social media okay good all right well thank you so much for coming in today thank you for having us yeah this is fun before I wrap up today's episode I want to share a few items the city sponsored events at due days are including thursty Thursday which is Thursday June 20th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. under the big tent that costs $15 correct yes MH annual police bike auction is Saturday June 22nd um viewing starts at 11:00 a.m. and the bidding will start at 11:30 and our Model Railroad Club will be open to visitors at the Rambling River Center June 22nd again on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and of course kiss the pig we talked about that that will be Saturday June 22nd at 400 p.m. under the big tent so don't forget to vote for your Challenger that you want to see kiss that Pig more information can be found on our website too Farmington mn.gov or like we said the due day's website farming farington MN do days.com well that concludes this month's episode of the Farmington feed thank you for listening we look forward to connecting with residence with this podcast if you have any feedback guest requests or ideas email me at communications Farmington mn.gov don't forget to subscribe to the Farmington feed wherever you like to get your podcasts