Disappointed in cancellation of Home & Health Show




To the editor,

I was very disappointed when I learned the chamber has decided to cancel this year’s Home Show.

I, like many others in the past, have grumbled about getting stuff together and spending a Saturday for this event. However, once there and people were rolling through, I would meet a lot of people either from business that I didn’t know, or many people from the community I had never met, along with some old friends and relatives. It always ended up being a very enjoyable day.

I was planning on participating this year because the past two years I was unable to participate for health reasons. However, I was able to attend last year and had a very enjoyable time. I know several businesses and vendors from Pipestone have chosen not to participate in the last couple of years, which is unfortunate. Maybe we have gotten to think we should see immediate results from the event. I probably don’t know if the event was responsible for me making a sale.

I know that even though this event is a fundraiser for the chamber, it probably did not bring in a huge amount of revenue. If a vendor or business decided not to participate, maybe a personal visit should be made to them to inquire what had influenced their decision to no longer participate.

It is also a great deal of work, as I do remember Mick was always on the run for this event. If there was doubt on having it, maybe it should have been discussed more before setting a date.

To bring an event like this to life again in a following year would be difficult, I believe. You now have vendors that have had this date down that may not have another event choice to go to. In addition, I’m sure many businesses may have already purchased their advertising items that they pass to the public, who seem to relish them.

What else does Pipestone do that gets this assortment of people together in a closed setting? Fairs, craft events, Civil War days and parades usually don’t force people close to communicate as at the home show.

To get vendors, demonstrators, businesses, hospitals, maintenance and radio takes a great deal of time and work. I am aware of that but I just don’t like to see Pipestone lose another event.

Robert Klinsing
Pipestone