fête de bison

Years ago, a farmer started raising buffalo in the field out behind our town. People heard about them and started coming to see them. Pretty soon, people were coming from a long ways away to see them. And so then farmer started the bi-annual Fête de Bison.

Indians, cowboys, soldiers, they dig it out here. Just like we dress up as knights in shining armor and fair damsels in distress, they dress up like Indians and Soldiers, Cowboys and Civil War era ladies.

Last weekend was the Fête de Bison, and we turned out to see what it was all about. On the right is the tallest wooden sculpture made out of one piece of wood in the world. Not kidding. It's in the Guinness Book of World Records. Go look.

There was an Indian camp and a Civil War encampment. Complete with Hurleys. And people walking around in costume. And lots of Native American artifacts.

To be honest, I was rather impressed. I mean, for a small, out of the way village in the back country of Switzerland, it was pretty good. And if the Europeans came over to the US and saw our portrayals of Medieval life, they'd probably laugh too.

Can somebody pleeeeease tell me who the chief in the center is? My Mama and I both thought it was Chief Seattle but research has proved otherwise. But we've both seen him somewhere. Please?

After we were done walking around we went and got some bison steak and hamburgers. And it was yummy. Really yummy. Yum yum yum. Although it did seem mean to eat it in front of the other bison, who were still alive (they were there, we just didn't go visit them). But yum.