On behalf of the Becker Parks and Recreation Department, Becker Community Center and Freedom Days Planning Team, I want to thank everyone involved in making the 2016 Freedom Days a huge success. It takes a lot of dedicated, enthusiastic people to make a large community event like this come together; thankfully, in Becker we have that. Due to the work and commitment of so many people, Freedom Days was a fun and successful family event for our community. Activities during the week included an exciting and enriching all-new activity, Open Streets- Let’s Move, Becker, a program made possible through the collaboration of the City of Becker, Sherburne County Statewide Health Improvement Program and the Becker School District, our annual Medallion Hunt, 1st Annual Freedom Days Disc Golf Tournament at City Park, Speed Golf at Pebble Creek, History Center Ice Cream Social, Sherburne State Bank Picnic Open House, STARCOR Community Picnic, BCC Kiddie Parade and more. Saturday’s grand day activities began with more than 150 walkers and runners of all ages participating in the 5K and 1K events, followed by the annual parade lead by the American Legion Color Guard. The Freedom Days Carnival followed with great food, fun and entertainment that led into the evening festivities featuring the popular band Outside Recess and the fireworks display. New activities, events and demonstrations this year included the All-New Teen Zone, Bungee Jump, four new marching bands in our parade, and many new community booths, including the Maurer Vehicle and the DNR Poachers Trailer. The success of an event as large and expansive as Freedom Days 2016 would not be possible without a tremendous network of dedicated staff, sponsors and volunteers; so a special thanks to our fantastic BCC Leadership Team: Cindy Kazeck, Jessica Huettl, Ken Burgess, Keri Schulte & Tracey Otto; our sponsors and Freedom Days partners: Ace Sanitation, American Family Insurance-Amy Chmielewski Agency, Angell’s Construction Services, Becker Blast Tournament, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-All Seasons, Becker American Legion, Becker Chamber of Commerce, Becker Fire Dept, Becker Township, Becker Community Center, Becker Police Dept, Becker Lion’s Club, Becker Public Works, Bob’s Towing and Recovery Inc, City of Becker, Connexus Energy, Country Lumber Inc, DNR-Mitch Sladek, Julie Baloun and the Becker Dazzlers, Liberty Paper Inc, McDonald’s Meats Inc, Midwest Handyman Servies LLC, Milles Band of Ojibwe-Grand Casino, Palmer Wireless, Pebble Creek Golf Course, Scheideman Chiropractic, Sherburne Co Sherriff’s Dept, Sherburne State Bank, STARCOR Credit Union, Studio 5 Salon, Viking Coca-Cola, Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home, Wruck Excavating, Wruck Sewer & Portable Toilets, Xcel Energy. An extra special thanks to our Freedom Days Committee (Brent Baloun, John Riebel, Jerome Kleis, Deanna Graning) and to our volunteers: Dhani Adler, Payton Anderson, Sam Angell, Blaine Bartel, Sarah Beack, Char Bloss and Becker Boy Scout Troop 29, Jason Kardell and Becker Boy Scout Troop 92, Becker Dazzler Dance Team, Jean Schmidt and the Becker Girl Scouts, Dick Behm, Lynette Brannen, Brandon Buesgens, Sue Burgess, Donald Bush, The Cassidy Family, Jacob Charbonneau, Amanda Connolly, Taren Danielson, Mckenzie Demant, Nikki Drahota, Belinda Edling, Bryanna Edling, Yvonne Eilers, The Fitzpatrick Family, Jim and Marge Free, Erica Freeman, Mary Goenner, Deanna Graning, Megan Gruber, Jessica Gruenes, Kayla Gruenes, Courtney Halvorson, Jeremy Halvorson, Amber Hansen, Mick Hennessey, Kelly Hoppe, Megan Hoppe, Doug Kazeck, Tom and Lori Keller, Emilee Kirchoff, Buddy Kolby, Kylie Kollman, Julie Krenz, Kaylene Kruse, Sandra Kruse, The Larrison Family – Randy, Heather and Nicole, Barb Larson, Jani Larson, Susan Lee, Chloe Madsen, LassanaMoore, Tali Neidenfehur, Tanner Neidenfehur, Anne Nelson, Nathanael Nelson, Ryan Nohner, Aaron Otto, Erik Otto, Sharon Pena, Joe Perry, Brenden Potter, Jacob Ringwelski, Madi Ringwelski, Maria Sakry, Lonnie Seeley, Emily Skelton, Blake Soenneker, Bud Stimler, Danielle Strege, Ronnie Theis, Bailee Thorson,Misty Trombley, Marykate Wegeleben, Butch Woolhouse. 

 

City of Becker Community Center  Manager Director of Parks and Recreation and Freedom Days Coordinator.