After two-year lapse Town and Country Days will be held June 29 and 30 in the picturesque town of St. Ansgar. This is a summer happening you won't want to miss. Chuck Peterson, the editor of the St. Ansgar Enterprise and the president of the chamber of commerce is the driving force behind what he calls "resurrecting" this event.

"Town and Country Days is an event that went on for years," Peterson said. "The same people ran it and chaired it year after year and they got burnt out. I started to plan having it last year. All new people are on the committee for this local celebration. I think it is unfortunate that no native area people are on the committee, all the people that are involved are people who have moved to the area and didn’t grow up here."

Events for Town and Country Days include a long distance run that starts at 8 a.m. on June 29. At the same time is a 2×4 bike race that participants will travel through four counties and two states.

In the evening there will be a smoked pork chop supper provided by the local fire department. At 6 p.m. on the 29th, Miss St. Ansgar will be crowned. Every senior girl in St. Ansgar is eligible to participate in this contest.

A mile and half parade is planned for Town and Country Days. Peterson said this is a fun event and the local farmers bring in their antique tractors to show off in the parade. All the neighboring towns are in the parade and these include Riceville, Stacyville, Grafton and Greene Iowa.

Town and Country Days will end with the kick off of a yearlong beard-growing contest to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the First Lutheran Church of St. Ansgar. The contestants will be growing their beards for a year. The celebration for the church will be a two day event on June 21 and 22 2003.

Peterson himself is not a native of St. Ansgar he grew up in the St. Paul area: he said, "As far as little town goes, our population has stayed consistent and people are moving back here to retire. This should be a fun event."

All the area stores will be open so there will be great shopping for everyone.

Sheila Donnelly can be reached at 434-2233 or by e-mail at :mailto: newsroom@austindailyherald.com