Trista Torgusen wanted to play on a sand volleyball team this summer, but there just weren’t any.
So, she decided to do the next best thing – organize a mud volleyball tournament during the Quarry Days activities.
“Maybe it is time to bring it back, because we need something new and fun,” Torgusen said. “Quarry Days is the best time to get it going because we already have people coming around from surrounding towns. If we get them interested in mud volleyball, maybe next year more people will be excited about it. I am hoping spectators will see how much fun it is and come back next year and participate.”
Quarry Days 2009, sponsored by the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce, kicks off on Friday at 10 a.m. with a golf tournament at the Dells Rocky Run Golf Club and ‘Take Me out to the Ball Game’ that starts at 8 p.m. later that day at Rickeman Field.
The activities continue on Saturday at 7 a.m. with the ESA 5K Run and Walk and conclude that day with the annual Burn-Out Contest and Tractor Pulls.
On Sunday, Car Show Registration begins at 9 a.m. at City Park and the festivities conclude at dusk with a Musical Fireworks Display.
Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce Coordinator Lorretta Mattern said Quarry Days brings the community together and brings visitors to the area.
“We’re hoping it is an economic boost to the community,” she said. “It also gives nonprofit organizations an opportunity to earn money through fundraising.”
The 22nd Annual Quarry Days will not include a 3-on-3-basketball tournament, but it will include mud volleyball.
Mud volleyball registration starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with play beginning at 11 a.m. The single-elimination tournament is expected to conclude around the time the Burn-Out Contest begins.
To date, there are 20 teams participating. The first place team receives a $200 party tab at Norby’s and the second place team will get a $100 party tab at Norby’s. The registration fee is $10 per teams who have four to six members.
“Quarry Days has changed a lot in 10 years. It was larger then.” Torgusen said. “If we can get new events, like mud volleyball, we can bring more people to town and get more businesses in town.”
The Burn-Out Contest and Tractor Pulls have been part of the Quarry Days landscape for many years.
Registration for this year’s Burn-Out Contest starts at 3 p.m. The first race will go at 4 p.m. between the Old Dutch Inn and Rickeman Field. Each vehicle is placed on a cement pad with blocks put on the front tires.
The drivers power their brakes, burn their tires and smoke the tire until it pops. Each participant has 30 seconds to accomplish that feat.
“The object is to see who makes the most smoke and pops a tire,” said Tom Herding, who is the coordinator of the event. “People love to see the smoke and see cars pop a tire or blow a motor.
“This really draws the people,” he added. “There is a great crowd that shows up.”
The day concludes with the Tractor Pulls. This year’s event will have two tracks and two transfer sleds.
The Great Plains Tractor Pullers will be operating on one track, while the Nebraska Power Pullers are on the other track. The tractor or pick up starts by pulling 30,000 pounds. By the end of the 300-foot trek, the tractor or pick up could be pulling as much as 200,000 pounds.
“Very few do it,” Herding said. “Quarry Days is a good event. It is good for Dell Rapids. It draws a lot of different people to town and there are a lot of different things for them to do.”
This year’s event also includes a visit to the museum form Carolyn McClain, a nationally known antiques appraiser.
She will be at the museum between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday to appraise personal antiques. Those who wish to have an antique appraised need to set up a time to visit with McClain. The cost is $5 and the money is used as a fundraiser for the museum and as community service for the residents of Dell Rapids and surrounding areas.
“She is very well educated,” Teri Fiegen said. “Quarry Days is a great time to do it because there are so many people in town. It gives them another opportunity to come in and visit the museum.”
The museum will also house a replica of Abraham Lincoln’s casket during the celebration.
“I love Quarry Days,” Fiegen said. “It is one of the few times the whole town in its entirety, young and old, get together and celebrate a community activity.”