2 Months but Who’s Counting

by Betty Roberge

Summer Hummer will be here before you know it. Hope you’ve taken advantage of the Advance Ticket option for a discounted price. They are available from your Regional Reps and can also be found online.

Hummer T-Shirts are now for sale as a pre-order. The form can be found in the newsletter and also online. If you want to save yourself shipping costs, be sure to check the box that you will be picking your shirt up at the Hummer.

That’s two sales we can offer you so far – tickets and shirts!

Be sure to promote this event wherever you may find yourself. We plan on having a lot to offer our attendees and want to make this fundraiser the best one yet. That can only happen if we advertise, and word of mouth is one of the best ways to do that.

Vendors are starting to line up nicely – both craft / sales vendors and food vendors alike. Be sure to stop by and thank them for supporting us as a vendor.

The committee has added another band to the line-up. Double Threat will be entertaining us late Thursday afternoon just before Gregg Hall and the Wrecking Ball takes the stage. That makes a total of 6 bands over the course of the weekend….NICE!

Sponsors are a huge part of our event and provide much needed funding to our Hummer budget and by doing so allow us to offer attendees many extras. Our 2023 sponsors include: Hupy and Abraham, Modern Disposal Systems, Harley Davidson of Madison, Magneto’s MC, Craft Masonry, Inc., Husch Blackwell Strategies, Suburban Motors, State Bank of Chilton, Elkhorn Saloon, Roadhouse-Necedah, Road Track and Trail, Roger “Bug” Woodke, Sunset Tavern, Beedle’s Bar & Restaurant, Club La Mark, Cousins Subs, Gaier Construction, Julie & “Worm” Grasse, The Highground, Jo & Mike Halvorson, Jensen’s Towing, Moraine Motel, Ray Ray’s Bottom’s Up Bar, Region 4C, Rooster’s Roadhouse, Smiling Moose Saloon & Grill, and Danny & Dawn Stoddard. A big shout out to all of them.

We have added a new Sponsorship Banner Program for the Hummer this year. Businesses are invited to purchase a banner that will be hung in the bar area of ABATE Acres from mid-May to mid-October. Sizes and costs are 4’ X 4’ = $300; 4’ X 6’ = $400; and 4’ X 8’ = $500. If you know of any businesses that would like to showcase their business through a summer long Summer Hummer banner, have them complete the order form found in this newsletter and return it along with payment to Laurie Thompson. It’s a great way to remind our members who support us.

Our new pavilion will be ready to showcase at the Hummer this year. This will be the first major event being held at the land where our pavilion will come into play. There are some projects in the works to make it spiffy during land warming. If you are interested in helping out, Worm asks that you bring a pair of work gloves and a sander if you own one. The project is to sand the posts that support the structure. And as long as we’re talking pavilion, we are working hard to get this 100% paid for with donations. We should pat ourselves on the back because this project makes us a little more independent and adds value to our land and organization. Besides saving us money each year on tent rentals (about $4,500/year) the building will hopefully generate some income for us in the future. It certainly, adds value to your membership and to the organization.

 If your region hasn’t done so yet, be sure to award the 2 complimentary Summer Hummer tickets to a member that has never been to the event before. If you are reading this and haven’t been to the Hummer before, go to your regional meeting and find out how you can qualify. There are several regions that have already distributed their tickets so we should see brand new faces at the gate.

Be sure to let everyone know that ABATE is offering day passes EACH DAY to anyone who wants to come up for one day only. The cost of a day pass is $30. Day pass attendees will have an exclusive parking area by the gate house and must leave by the end of each day (midnight.) If you come for one day and decide to stay for two, you will have to buy another day pass for the second day at an additional $30, so plan accordingly. In the long run it might be better to buy a weekend pass and camp out for all three days.

Entertainment Recap: Thursday late afternoon is Double Threat followed by Gregg Hall and the Wrecking Ball (Gregg says if the house is rockin’ they’ll keep playing); Friday late afternoon is American Tailgate with Sammy Ray & Chris Hodgson followed by Eliminator, a ZZ Top cover band; and Saturday features Gregg Hall acoustical guitar during the “Taste” from Noon to 3 pm then after announcements the Zac Matthews Band will close it all up for us.

Are you a vendor with questions? Be sure to forward them to Lauri Shakal (715) 306-0048, Betsy Jennings (715) 533-8085, or Kay Johnson (715) 512-0062. They are more than willing to help out in order to make the Summer Hummer a mutually favorable event and to keep you coming back.

Bar Stool Racing, Beer Bobbing, and the Tattoo Contest is BACK! There will also be a photo opportunity for any Pin-Up Girls in the making. Ladies will have the chance to “pose” with bikes and have their pics taken for a small fee. Details are still being worked out but bring out your fishnet stockings girls.

In addition to Bar Stool racing, we are adding a Bean Bag Tournament, both individual and team. Start practicing your arc, so you can get it in the hole! Shannon Kayhart is in charge of that activity. Contact him to sign up yourself or your team when we get closer to June. Entry fees will be posted in future Hummer newsletter articles.

Of course, the Summer Hummer and all of its antics could not go on without countless volunteers to help out. Start thinking of where your talents lie and consider working a shift or two in June. If you have a special talent and want to help out, contact the people below.

Bar Area Leads: Brad Shakal (725) 306-0105 or Jay Goecks (715) 315-0070

Bike Show Lead: Gary Krueger (920) 994-4638

First Aid Lead: Chrissy Cartwright (608) 354-9265

Gate Lead: Bill Roberge (608) 769-5337

Grounds Lead: Robert “Worm” Grasse (920) 912-1789

Security Lead: Danny Stoddard (920) 217-3639

Taste of Summer Lead: Dawn Stoddard (920) 639-5037

Treasury Lead: Laurie Thompson (424) 940-5883

Vendor Leads: Lauri Shakal (715) 306-0048 Betsy Jennings (715) 533-8085 or

Kay Johnson (715) 512-0062

So, to recap – Tell your friends and pack your tent. We’re only

       2 months away!

As always, forward any and all Hummer ideas, comments – good or bad – and suggestions to:

“Worm” at Robert.grasse59@gmail.com or to Betty at news30letter@outlook.com

SEE YOU IN JUNE!