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No...
We don't throw real gophers out of a hot air balloon, but
we do drop stuffed facsimiles of the cute little prairie rodent
during a fun filled day of sports, games, dancing and festivities
to raise funds for the Cuplex.
In 1993,
the community was looking for a major fundraiser to complete
our recreation complex and to date the Gopher Drop has raised
over $100,000.
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The
idea of the gopher Drop came from a local resident as he watched
the TV sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. During that episode, the
radio station personel as a promotion were throwing live turkeys
out of a helicopter. As he watched this he was thinking this
is a unique concept and thought what was unique to Cupar and
Saskatchewan. GOPHERS! Saskatchewan and Cupar's farm land
is a hot bed for gophers, therefore "The Cupar Gopher
Drop" was originated.
Each
year the residents of Cupar sell tickets on numbered gophers.
On the day of the drop, all the sold gophers are placed in
a huge bag along with the stuffed foam gopher holes numbered
to the amount of prizes that are giving away. These gophers
holes represent which prize the numbered gopher that fall
closest to will win.
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The
bag is then attached to the hot air balloon.The balloon is launched
from the ground with all the gophers and holes on board. Once
the balloon reaches it's appropriate altitude, the bag is opened,
releasing the gophers and holes free falling to the ground.
Once all the gophers and holes land on the the ground, they
are checked to see which numbered gopher landed closest to which
numbered gopher hole. The gopher that landed nearest to hole
number 1 wins the grand prize, the gopher closest to hole numbered
2 wins second prize, and so on. |
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The
Cupar Gopher Drop has entertained people from far and wide
with a day of entertainment on the sports grounds with kid's
games/rides, bingo, ball tournament, beer gardens, concessions
and a dance to end the evening.
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2003
Rodeo & Dance Information
2003
Gopher Drop Prize Winners!
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$3000
Vacation Package
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Trevor
Macknak - Cupar
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$745
Camping Package
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Mitchell
Shevela - Punnichy
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$830
Deck Package
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Mary
Aschenbrener - Cupar
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$450
Roughrider Package
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Donna
Bonish - Cupar
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Meat
Package
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Ray
Miller - Regina
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Deacons
Bench |
Dane
Bonish - Cupar |
Manitou
Springs |
John
Weldon - Cupar |
Original
Painting |
Thomas
Jamison - Cupar |
DVD
Player |
Steve
& Cecile Tuttosi - Punnichy |
Stained
Glass |
Sharon
Huber - Regina |
Lady's
Slipper |
Cody
Frick - Whitewood |
Tina
Orbin Painting |
Jared
Frank - Cupar |
Glass
Wheat |
Ginny
Mason - Watrous |
Glass
Wheat |
Mark
Konecsni - Regina |
Blown
Glass |
Dylan
Ban - Cupar |
A very special thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers
who helped make the 11th Annual Cupar Gopher Drop & District
Rodeo a great success |
2002
Gopher Drop Prize Winners!
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27"
Flat Screen TV & Stand
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Joy
DeGooijer - Kelliher
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Swing'n
Slide Playground Kit
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Twyla
Pugh - Lestock
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Treadmill
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Sheldon
Affleck - Pilot Butte
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VCR/DVD
Player
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Jennifer
Langen-Bell - Regina
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Toy
Riding Tractor
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Kevin
Schwartz - Morinville, AB
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Chimenea
Cast Iron Stove |
Josh
Serbu - Regina |
Glass
Wheat Frame |
Darcy
Lalach - Regina |
Hand
Crafted Rocking Horse |
Ida
Schmalenberg - Raymore |
Hand
Painted Buffalo Skull |
Ruth
Keewatin - Balcarres |
Glass
Prairie Lily Globe |
Denise
Sefzczyn - Kelliher |
Portable
Stereo |
Frankie
Battyanie - Cupar |
Hand
Painted Antique Grain Shovel |
Janice
Somerville - Kelliher |
A very special thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers
who helped make the 10th Annual Cupar Gopher Drop & District
Rodeo a great success |
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