OTOE – The weekend brought much needed rain and much-welcomed festivals at Plattsmouth, Hamburg and Otoe.

The rain caused some events to be canceled at the 91st Harvest Festival, the longest tenured harvest festival in Nebraska.  New king and queen of the Harvest Festival are Fred Ulrich and Lily Roby.

 

The 2021 Popcorn Queen Roxanna Snyder and Popcorn Princess Rease Refleng helped crowned this year’s royalty at the Colonial Theater.

Princess candidates were Layla Christian, Athena Shane and Lexie Walker.

The 2022 Popcorn Queen is Gracee Thompson, the daughter of Chad and Alisha Thompson.

She is a National Honor Society student who has served on student council. Thompson has been involved in high school athletics and cheerleading, as well as band and choir.

The Hamburg Community Schools senior plans to attend nursing school and become a midwife.

 

New the Otoe Barbecue this year was a tractor drive to benefit Kilee Oetjen, who is battling leukemia.

Organizer Tom Heller of Syracuse said he was pleased with the turnout after the rain delay on Saturday.

Heller: “I was hoping and it exceeded my expectations . Good turnout and for a good cause.”

There were about 70 paid entries for the poker run and 30 vehicles for the 24-mile ride, where participants can draw a card at five stops. The top three poker hands win prizes.