Look at what the wind is blowing in. Activities for all ages will be a part of the 1st Annual Pierce County Wind Harvest Festival. This new event is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 7 and Saturday, Sept. 8.

The Pierce County Wind Harvest Festival was suggested by Iberdrola Renewables, Inc., the owners of the Rugby Wind Farm, as a way to celebrate this great energy achievement in Pierce County. The Rugby Wind Farm has 71 wind turbines located along Highway 17, near Wolford in the northwest part of the county. It was completed and dedicated in 2011.

Area residents are invited to help Pierce County celebrate, as there are activities for every age.

A Quilt Show at Hometown Quilting will begin at 3 p.m. and will be open until 9 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, it will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Come and see what area quilt makers have created.

Right next door will be the Strange Veggie Contest at the Senior Center from 3-9 p.m. on Friday and 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Bring strange-shaped veggies, or if anyone has a unique vegetable from their garden now that might not last until the contest, take a photo of it and submit that. The actual vegetable is preferred, as people like to see them, but the photo is an option.

Downtown stores will have energy enhancement bargains for the wind festival. Don’t miss out on the specialty and gift stores downtown during this ‘blow out’ event.

A few of the activities will take place at the fairgrounds in Rugby both days. On Friday, there will be food vendors at the fairgrounds from 4-9 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

If Funky Junk -One man’s/woman’s junk is another’s treasure- is a passion, enjoy the show at the community center on the fairgrounds on Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For the uninitiated, Funky Junk (TM) is a fun way to buy local, recycle, and save money. Antiques and craft show items are part of this fun experience. Funky Junk Shows are all over the country and now one is coming to Rugby from 4-9 p.m. on Friday and 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m on Saturday.

On Friday evening, the band “Rhyme or Reason” will be playing in front of the grandstand at the fairgrounds from 8 p.m. – Midnight. A beer garden is being sponsored by Crook’s Lounge and 3rd St. Station.

The Wind Harvest Festival Breakfast on Saturday morning is being sponsored by the Rugby Fireman’s Auxiliary at the community center on the fairgrounds from 7:30 – 11 a.m. Various food vendors will be open for business from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Throw caution to the ‘wind’ and eat all three meals at the fairgrounds or at any of the downtown or highway restaurants on Friday or Saturday. No need to cook for the weekend.

The Farmers Market will be open from 8-11 a.m. at the junction of highways #2 and #3 on Saturday morning. Breakfast at one of the restaurants or gas stations on the two highways are always an option before or after picking up produce.

Vendor booths will be located in the community center at the fairgrounds from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Face Painting sponsored by the Relay For Life team, Marie’s Blessings will be available from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on the fairgrounds. Kite decorating/flying will be available from 1-2 p.m. at the fairgrounds. A Nickel Scramble will be held for young children at the fairgrounds from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday.

Meanwhile, downtown a Classic Car Show will be on display from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Another activity on Saturday afternoon downtown is the Old Time German/Norsky Musical entertainment provided by Lee Hagen from 2-4 p.m.

Come and celebrate the Rugby Wind Farm and Harvest Festival in downtown Rugby and at the Pierce County Fairgrounds the second weekend in September on the 7th and 8th. This new event promises to be a winner as sure as the wind blows in North Dakota.

The festival is sponsored by the 2012 Pierce County Wind Harvest Festival Committee, the Rugby Chamber, the Convention and Visitors Center, and the Rugby JDA. The committee has made it easy to donate to this fun-filled family festival by creating sponsorships in different categories. Wind Megawatts for those who donate $1,000 and up; Wind Turbines for those who donated $500-$999; Renewables for those who donate $100 – $499 and Friends of the Wind for all other donaters. If an individual or business wishes to contribute sponsorship, please contact Shelley Block at 776-5846 or Brenda Foster at 776-7655.