Alva Review-Courier -

Food, fun, family, friends and fireworks equal a festive celebration sponsored by Freedom Chamber of Commerce.

Last Friday the annual 4th of July celebration took place at the Freedom Rodeo grounds. It was a nice evening with a slight breeze and cloudy skies to the west, which kept the temperatures tolerable.

Approximately 150 people attended the event. It started with a meal of hamburgers, hot dogs and many side dishes; there were fun competitive games for kids of all ages and a fireworks display.

The Freedom Chamber of Commerce provided the meat, buns, watermelon and ice cold drinks. Families were asked to provide side dishes and desserts, and there was plenty of food.

In addition to food the Chamber organized fun games for the kids and adults. Participants who placed first through third received cash prizes. Games include turtle races, stick horse races, sack races, egg-toss, three-legged race and water balloon dodge ball. Finally at dusk a display of fireworks lit up the sky.

It was a fun, festive evening for everyone. The next Chamber event will be the Rodeo Queen Kickoff on July 14.

Results of the games are as follows:

Turtle Races

Ages 8 and under – first place, Regan Wilson; second place, Preslee Fraire; third place, Paige Stearns

Ages 9 and over – first place, Brandt Lee; second place, Shay Wilson; third place, Jack Morris

Best Dressed Turtle – first place, "Hoops," decorated by Shay Wilson; second place, "Wonder Woman," decorated by Paislynn Stearns; and third place, "Bat Girl," decorated by Paige Stearns

Gunny-Sack Races

Ages 8 and under – first place, Paige Stearns; second place, Dante Lewis; third place, Preslee Fraire

Ages 9 and over – first place, Brandt Lee; second place, Shay Wilson; third place, TamLynn Link

Adults – first place, Colt Stearns; second place, Juan Fraire; third place, Tiffany Weber

Stick-Horse Races

Ages 8 and under – first place, Paige Stearns; second place, Jimmie Smith; third place, Jack Wilson

Ages 9 and over – first place, Cheyenne Benfield; second place, Shay Wilson; third place, Jaedon Salabye

Barrel Horse Races

Ages 8 and under – first place, Paige Stearns; second place, Jack Wilson; third place, Dante Lewis

Ages 9 and over – first place, Cheyenne Benfield; second place, Shay Wilson; third place, Jaedon Salabye

Egg Toss

Katie Strehl

The ladies put their best feet forward during the sack race. From left: Shyla Vance, Robbie Stearns, Tiffany Weber and Ronna Wilson.

The teams of Cheyenne Benfield and Shay Wilson, and Jimmie Smith and Preslee Fraire tied for first place.

Watermelon-Eating Contest

Ages 8 and under – first place, Dante Lewis; second place, Preslee Fraire; third place, Jack Wilson

Ages 9 and over – first place, Shyla Vance; second place, Ally Nusser; third place, Dedra Fraire

Three-Legged Race

Ages 8 and under – first place, Preslee and Praleigh Fraire; second place, Jack Wilson and Paige Stearns

Ages 9 and over – first place, Brandt Lee and Domynik Link; second place, Cheyenne Benfield and Shay Wilson; third place, Jaedon Salabye and Jack Morris.

Wooden Ski Race

First place, Duke Morris; second place, Brandt Lee; third place, Domynik Link and Jaedon Salabye.