Posted Jul 05, 2012 @ 11:32 AM
I spent the past several days traveling around the area covering different Fourth of July activities. I photographed a couple of fireworks shows at Crawford State Park and at Lincoln Park in Pittsburg. I also made a couple of trips to Hepler to cover the Hepler Ruritan Rodeo and the Hillbilly Games which was a lot of fun to attend and cover.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Spectators watch the show during the Crawford State Park Fourth of July celebration on the lakefront Monday evening.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Hanna Bailey, 6, of Girard, enjoys shaved ice in the bleachers with her father Judd while waiting for the start of the Hepler Ruritan Rodeo Tuesday evening.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Wyatt Forester, 5, of Fort Scott, watches the Hepler Ruritan Rodeo Tuesday evening.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Laklyn Arthur, 7, of Girard, takes her ride during the Hepler Ruritan Rodeo mutton busting competition Tuesday evening. She finished second in the event.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Tyler Paseur, of Charlotte, N.C., a second year student at Fort Scott Community College and a member of the rodeo team takes his ride in the bareback competition Tuesday evening during the Hepler Ruritan Rodeo. Paseur finished his ride with a score of 79.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Kiser Wiatrak, 7, of St. Paul, holds on during his first place ride in the Hepler Ruritan Rodeo mutton busting competition Tuesday evening.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Teams compete in the hillbilly laundry event Wednesday afternoon during the Hillbilly Games, a Fourth of July tradition in Hepler. In this event teams put on overalls, climbed into a stock tank full of water, raced down to the other end of the course wearing their wet clothing, then hang the overalls on a hay circle before carrying the hay circle back to the starting line as a team to complete the race.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Competitors pull teammates around the course during the water bucket chariot race Wednesday afternoon in Hepler during their Fourth of July Hillbilly Games.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Alexxiz Graham, 9, tosses a horseshoe during the annual Independence Day tournament on Wednesday at Pittsburg’s Lincoln Park. Graham had never played before the tournament, but ended up winning a few matches.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Top left, Joshua Crabtree winner of the 14 and older division takes a drink of water between bites during the fourth annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, sponsored by 99.1 ESPN Radio, KSEK FM, in Lincoln Park. Right, Tristin Perrin, 9, holds his arms in the air in celebration after being named the winner of the 13 and under division with two hot dogs and a bite of third eaten Wednesday evening. Below, Blake Collingsworth, a member of the Southeast Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, prepares to take a bite of one of the seven hot dogs he ate during a competition between members of the squadron Wednesday evening in Lincoln Park.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
The youth bocce tournament drew a number of competitors and teams. Pictured here are, clockwise from top left, Libby Vogel, 11; Patrick Biggs, 15; Kaden Vogel, 8; and Mac Biggs, 10.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Darrell Cupp, Carterville, Mo., said that horseshoes are “the only game I’m any good at.” He drove from Carterville just to play in the Independence Day tournament on Wednesday at Lincoln Park.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Spectators watch the annual Pittsburg Fourth of July fireworks show Wednesday evening in Lincoln Park.
