While the activities have changed over the years, the attitudes of those involved in the Town and Country Days in Burlington Junction have not.

Once a year the residents of Burlington Junction and surrounding towns in the West Nodaway School District celebrate with booths, a parade, movies, pageants, contests, water fights and entertainment, among others.

While it hasn't always been titled 'Town and Country Days,' the town has had a large annual celebration for nearly 125 years. And a few years back, with little community support, the event almost stopped all together.

The end to all celebrations was avoided when Rochelle Shimak pulled together a few interested parties and got the event going again.

"I'd come home from the first meeting and told mom we weren't having it because no one was interested," Shimak said. "She said, 'If we stop it, we'll never have it again.'"
Happy to have never seen that result, Shimak, who isn't in charge this year, said that once you get to calling people, they are usually willing to help in some way.

"It really hasn't changed a whole lot," she said. "We have about the same things every year. I just like going uptown, sitting around and watching people have fun."

The most memorable town celebration for Shimak was the centennial celebration, and at that time she was a young child.

"When I was a kid I was really shy," she said. "Since I've been helping with it, I've enjoyed it more, and I've encouraged my own daughter to get involved. I guess being on the board has kind of helped me come out of my shell."

A tradition for the event has always been the Saturday morning parade. Shimak particularly remembers one year when her family (the Goffs) dressed up as hillbillies, blacked out their teeth and road in an old '54 pickup truck. When the family tried to make a hillbilly comeback several years later, the truck broke down and the family pushed it the rest of the way through the parade. 

Kathryn Johansen, who used to help in the planning of the event, started the Little Mr. and Miss Contest in the early '80s. She stopped after the first couple of years, and has now gone back to putting together the event. The contest is for children ages 3-6, and includes anyone within the West Nodaway school district.

"I think that sometimes parents think that if you are not a resident of Burlington Junction, you cannot enter," Johansen said. "But it's anybody within the entire school district."
Johansen has lived in Burlington Junction her entire life, so she understands the significance of the weekend event.

"It's the one time of year that Burlington pulls together as a community," Johansen said. "We have other things, but this one is really for the whole community. It's cool to see everybody out doing things and enjoying themselves. We just seem to all work as a community during this."

Registration will occur the night of the contest and there is no cost for the contest. Johansen said parents are asked to fill out an index card with a little information about their children.

Based on that information, the contestant interviewer will ask the youngsters questions. To become better acquainted with the children and make it more comfortable for them, the interviewer introduces herself to them prior to the contest.

However the event has changed in the nearly 125 years since its start, both Johansen and Shimak feel the event is a vital part of their small community.

"I believe this is one of the best times we have in the summer," Johansen said. "I think everyone should come out, take part in it and have a good time with us."
For more information, contact Matt Limback at (660) 725-4580.