Pigskin Classic, Biz Bash on tap for Saturday
If you’re one for the thrill of the action on the football field or prefer the best deals in town, then you’re in luck.
And Saturday in Brandon is the place to be for both.
“There will be a lot of people in town,” confirms Rachael Nieman, CEO/president of the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s really exciting to have so much going on our community. Brandon will definitely be the place to be that day.”
For starters, Saturday is the official kickoff to Brandon Valley’s 2024 football season, which is celebrated every year during the daylong Pigskin Classic. Filled with a variety of events, the day serves as the major fundraiser for Brandon Valley’s Booster Club.
It’s also the 15th year for the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Biz Bash, and both are guaranteed to be real crowd-pleasers.
The Pigskin Classic features a full slate of activities for kids starting with Friday’s Dodgeball Tournament for kids in grades 1-6. That same night, middle schoolers can attend their first dance of the school year from 7-9 p.m.
The action ramps up early on Saturday. As always, the BV Booster Club gives fans the opportunity to reserve up to six feet of bleacher space from 6-10 a.m. for $10 bucks. Game admission is not included.
The Levo 5K Fun Run/Walk steps off at 7 a.m. from the BVHS Football Stadium. Participants can register starting at 6:30 a.m.
Youngsters will enjoy unlimited use of inflatables, obstacle course and bouncer for $5.
From 9 a.m.-1 p.m. BV’s Dance Team will be washing cars in the First National Bank parking lot for a free will donation, and the Bancorp 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament for boys and girls in grades 2-8 will be played at the BVHS parking lot.
The Lynx cheerleaders will lead a camp from 9:30-11:30 a.m. for kids in grades K-8.
The afternoon offers even more activities for the kids. From 1-3 p.m. there will be a Dodgeball Tournament in the BVHS gym for kids in grades 7 and 8. At 1 p.m. the Punt, Pass & Kick competition is for kids ages 6-12.
There is no fee to compete, but registration is required and will be set up at the BVHS Complex.
From 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lynx fans can purchase BV spirit wear, purchase activity passes and Pigskin Classic t-shirts. Concessions will also be available on the grounds.
Leading up to the night’s main event – the Lynx vs. Sioux Falls Washington – at 6 p.m., BV fifth and sixth grade Junior Football teams will take the field.
The game ball is scheduled to arrive at 5:40 p.m., followed by kickoff at 6 p.m.
The Booster’s longtime tradition of auctioning off a pig, donated by the Bly Brothers and processed by Renner Corner, also donated, came to an end last year.
In keeping with tradition, the pig, processing and the follow-up potluck BBQ, however, continues on.
Co-chair of the Swine and Dine event, Sue Harms, said tickets will be available for purchase on Saturday for the Oct. 5 BBQ. A Homestead Brew in rural Valley Springs. Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for kids.
Tickets will remain available until the day of the BBQ.
“It’s always fun to get together, meet the parents and support our athletes,” Harms said. “It’s such a great tradition to carry on.”
Biz Bash
Another longtime tradition in Brandon – Biz Bash – will be set up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Splitrock parking lot just outside of the Chamber office. Biz Bash originally started as the Business Expo in 2009. It was first held in the BVHS Commons and later moved outdoors across the street from the high school.
“Biz Bash is a great opportunity for the Chamber to provide a platform to provide exposure for the different businesses that we have here in Brandon,” she said.
It’s also an avenue for even the youngest of entrepreneurs to do business in a professional way. Once again, the Kidpreneur event will have eight kid-led businesses onsite. They’ll sell everything from baked goods to custom-made pillows and jewelry to services, like lawn mowing, snow removal and dog walking.
A variety of Chamber-member businesses will also set up temporary shop to showcase their offerings.
“People come to Biz Bash for all sorts of reasons,” Neiman said. “They’ll have an opportunity to join a gym, find a chiropractor or an insurance agent.”
Others, she said, may find the job they’ve been looking for.
Although no food trucks will be set up this year, Nieman said Ace Hardware will be firing up the grill and offering skewer samples.
Kids will also have the opportunity to burn off some energy bouncing around in the inflatables, and the Cotton Candy Brothers have been secured to twirl up bags of cotton candy. The treat, compliments of the Chamber, will be free to the first 100 kids.
Adults can also register for one of three prize drawings simply by visiting each of the vendor booths. A bag filled with marketing trinkets from Chamber member businesses will also be handed out.
