26 students attended and passed the Hunter Safety Education class which concluded last night at The Niobrara Lodge Conference room. Volunteer instructors for the Game and Parks Commission presented 10 hours of instruction on such things as safe gun handling, hunter ethics, wildlife management, first aid and responsibility. Five individuals scored a perfect score on the 50 question exam. Justin Sheidt, Kortney Kronhofman, Jake Fulton, Jared Fulton and Cade Adamson. The Sandhills Strikers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation donated two gun cases for the top scores. After a simple drawing Cade Adamson and Jake Fulton received the cases. A big thank you to The Niobrara Lodge for the use of their facility for the Hunter Education Class.

Along with Crazy Day in Valentine this Saturday, the annual Valentine Area Farmers Market will be held at Henderson IGA parking lot beginning at 8am. If you are interested in being a vendor, contact Kalli Kieborz at 402-376-3442 or stop by the farmers market on Saturday morning. The farmers market will run through the first part of October. Some of the vendors can accept the Senior citizens fresh produce coupons.

 The 20^th annual Nebraska Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Old west Days will be held in Valentine October 6^th through the 9^th. Events will include the Old Time Melodrama, BBQ, poetry and music sessions, western art and trade show, quilt show, workshops, parade, and trail ride. Saturday October 8^th at 1:30 will feature a special reunion show which will feature several local poets including Marty Blcoker, Janet Parkhurst, Otto Rosfeld, Willard Hollopeter and more. Brochures are now available at numerous area businesses with a complete listing of talent and schedule of event. For ticket information call 1-800-658-4024 or go to nebraskacowboypoetrygathering.com.

Once again this year during the Cherry County Fair KVSH Radio and Hendersons IGA will team up to bring you the Burger Cook Off on Friday, August 19^th. Entrants must be ready to begin grilling at 5pm central time on the 19^th at the fairgrounds. Hendersons IGA will provide the large gas grill for cooking or contestants need to bring their own charcoal grill if they desire. Contestants should also plan to bring their own condiments and seasonings. Beef, Buns and grill will be provided, however contestants may bring their own rolls or buns. There will be two divisions; the dressed and undressed burgers. Entrants must participate in both divisions. Points from the two divisions will be combined to decide the overall winners with $250 worth of beef and chamber bucks for prizes. The overall winner will also claim the coveted ornate spatula and bragging rigths for the next year. The public is welcome to watch the competition and even sample some of the burgers. Entry information is available at Hendersons IGA or at the studios of KVSH.