FROMONLINE | 2011-10-12

By Denice Rovira Hazlett
October 12, 2011
467

Summary: There might not be any other place on earth where spectators can watch a competition featuring a horse-drawn, rider-wielding scoop shovel race. For the little village of Charm, it's all part of the fun. Story: Early Saturday morning, Oct. 8, in a picturesque, sun-soaked valley south of Charm, in Noah Yoder's mint-dotted field that, on any other day, would look like all of the other fields in Holmes county, thousands were gathered to witness the crowd-pleasing, high-action Charm Days Horseback Fun Show. The Fun Show, part of the Charm merchants' annual gathering and fundraising event, was in its sixth year, and, according to organizer Ray Raber of Raber's Shoeing Service, it just keeps getting bigger and better. "The first year it was a big hit, so we kept doing it," said Raber, "and we add a few more things every year." The show started when Guggisberg Swiss Inn owner Eric Guggisberg gave Raber the idea, fleshing out the details on a leisurely trail ride. They were hoping it would serve as a way to draw people to Charm Days, a two-day, festival-type gathering packed with activity, from a volleyball tournament and flea market to benefit food stands and special merchant sales, all to raise money for the Charm Share & Care fund, aimed at helping local folks in need. This year, the Horseback Fun Show definitely drew a crowd, filling the natural amphitheater with both locals and tourists, streaming in everywhere from Findlay, OH. to Sarasota, FL. Spectator Milton Yoder grew up in Plain City near Columbus and now divides his time between Picket Place in Berlin and Pinecraft, an Amish and Mennonite settlement in Sarasota, FL. Yoder and his wife, Carol, spent the day savoring the barbecued chicken, visiting Keim Lumber and Kidron Sports, and watching the horse races with their young grandson, Blaine Crilow, who especially loved the 200 yard dash. He's not alone. Ray Raber said the speed races are a big hit. "Spectators love it," said Raber. "They're all fired up about seeing that speed." But for the horsemen, Raber said, the best event is the obstacle course, a series of challenges for both horse and rider, including a one-handed side-step obstacle and a section where the horse must land each of its four hooves into a single tractor tire. "Any horse can run fast," said Raber," but it takes a good-minded horse to do that obstacle course." Not for the faint-of-heart, one event that has been part of the show since the beginning is the scoop shovel race, where the rider pulls a rope attached to a long-handled wide shovel upon which sits a daring, and hopefully well-padded, passenger. The event, said Raber, was the brainchild of a bunch of crazy cowboys. "Scoop shovel racing is something we do in the winter," Raber explained. "It's a ball in the snow. When we were coming up with ideas for our first show, we thought people would just get a bang out of it." Raber and his adventurous friends gave it a try in a grassy field and found that it worked. In spite of how dangerous it looks, no one has ever been hurt, and Raber said it can be quite a ride. "You can really get that old shovel moving," Raber laughed. Matt Theis of Findlay, OH., is a good friend of Raber's, and this year, Theis made quite a clown of himself, meandering through the crowd in his bright red jacket and giant, round nose to match, handing out candy and taking donations for the event. Theis, the owner of TripleT Bed and Breakfast and Theis Therapeutic Trails in Findlay, helped to emcee, and even tried his hind-end at scoop shovel racing--in low gear, of course. Theis loves the area and said he wouldn't mind moving to Holmes County someday. "I'm so impressed with this whole little town," said Theis, who is planning a Holmes County wedding next month. "It's a pleasure to be involved with this event." At the end of the event, the crowd filed out to enjoy the rest of the day's activities, leaving Noah Yoder's field, once again, a peaceful--though a little more muddy--place in the big-hearted village of Charm. Race Results: Barrel Racing: Guys' Jonathan Mast Girls' Division: Marilyn Raber Pony Division: Mark Mast Poll Bending: Guys' Division: Jonathan Mast Girls' Division: Mary Esther Troyer Pony Division: Jeremy Yoder Obstacle Course: Kevin Raber Scoop Shovel Race: Brothers Leroy and Jonathan Mast 200 Yard Dash: Ray Miller 100 Yard Pony Dash: Duane Miller

FROMONLINE | 2011-10-12

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