Stanfield Celebrates 4th with Big-Time Fun

Northeast Oregon Now
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2014 Stanfield 4th of July
Sirens wailed as fire trucks from Stanfield, Echo and Hermiston agencies traveled the parade route in Stanfield during the Fourth of July celebration.
PHOTOS BY JENNIFER COLTON

From pie baking to fireworks, Stanfield rang in the Fourth of July home-town style this weekend.

After the fireman’s breakfast filled stomachs, the parade kicked off for its route through downtown Stanfield. In addition to bands, candy, and dozens of red, white and blue floats, the parade featured a dozen classic cars and 10 fire trucks, both antique and operational, from three fire agencies: Echo, Hermiston, and Stanfield.

“That was impressive, that number of fire trucks,” Maggie Larson said. “That’s something you wouldn’t see in a big city.”

2014 Stanfield 4th
Jaiden Ruloph jumped into the air to grab money around him in the cash booth at Bard Park.
After the parade, the action moved to Bard Park, where vendors, inflatables, and summer weather helped entertain the crowds. While children took turns on the merry-go-round, swing sets and teeter-totters, adults and children both got into the competitive spirit.

Stanfield’s Fourth of July celebration included a competitive fun run, pie baking contest, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, hot dog eating contest, raffle and the duck race, where yellow plastic ducks can mean cash prizes. The top prize – $250 – went to Randy Sperr with duck No. 204, while the last-place “honors” went to Eldon Marcum with duck No. 68. Marcum also happened to be this year’s grand marshal for the parade and celebration.

While some focused their attention on the cash prizes from duck race on the water, others – including Jaiden Ruloph – took their chances in the “cash vault,” stanching dollar bills and gift certificates from the air in 30 seconds or less. After frenzied activity, Ruloph counted out $13 and two gift certificates.

“It was harder than I thought,” Ruloph said after the fast grab event.

After the competitions ended, visitors settled in for soft drinks, free popcorn and free entertainment. From the Power Team’s show on the live stage to the fireworks in the night sky, Stanfield’s 4th of July brought in everything it promised: Small town feel with big time fun.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the winners from the weekend:

4th of July Parade Best Overall
Main Street Market

The Fun Run
Men’s winner: Carlos Flores
Women’s winner: Emily ErnstCa
Children’s winner: Sonyana Selim

Pie Baking Contest
Kylee Ransom – First place
Summer Hartinger – Second place

Hot Dog Eating Contest
Brody Reynolds

Duck Race
Randy Sperr – Duck No. 204 – First place
Emily Marcum – Duck No. 70 – Second place
Tala Mika – Duck No. 78 – Third place