Clayton County Librarians Host Reading Rodeo

The Clayton County Librarians held a Reading Rodeo Party at McGregor Public Library on Wednesday, June 23rd. Twenty-one cowboys and cowgirls from pre-school through 5th grade stampeded into the library for games, stories, and treats.

Librarians served as Ranch Hands directing the Rodeo Party. Children played a guessing game, the "I'm a Cowboy" memory game, Horseshoes, Cow Chip Throw, and a Rodeo Cowboy Relay race. Kids chowed ice cream treats while McGregor librarian Michele Pettit read the story "Cindy Ellen -- a wild western Cinderella".

The Clayton County Librarians host parties at all nine county libraries every two years. This tradition began four years ago with a Harry Potter party, two years ago with an Olympics party, and continues this year with the Reading Rodeo. The nine librarians will travel to the rest of the Clayton County libraries the next two months to host rodeos.

Rodeo champions at the McGregor Rodeo included Drake Jensen, who won the Guessing Game of Horses and Cowboys with the closest guess of 77. The Blue Sheriffs won the Cow Chip Throw and Horseshoes and the Yellow Sheriffs won the Cowboy Relay.

The McGregor Public Library Summer Reading program continues with the K-5 program "Into the Woods" on Wednesday, June 30th from 3:00-4:00p.m., the Library Carnival Party for all ages on Wednesday, July 7 from 3:00-5:00; and a visit from Clayton County Dairy Princess Tracy Whittle on Wednesday, July 28 from 3:00-4:00.

"Ranch Hand" Library Directors of Clayton County host the Reading Rodeo: Front Row (L-R): Jill Sanders of Elkader, Cathy Shaw of Edgewood, Sandy Barron of Guttenberg. Back: Lois Cordes of Strawberry Point, Mary Fran Nikolai of Garnavillo, Lorna Christeleit of Volga, and Michele Pettit of McGregor.

June 2004