Sep. 15—NEW LONDON — Volunteers with the Prairie Pothole Conservation Association made it all happen again.

They were host to the 40th anniversary Prairie Pothole Day event on the grounds of the Stoney Ridge Farm on Saturday. A steady stream of visitors enjoyed it all.

There is no estimate of how many attended this year's event. As has always been the case, no admission is charged.

Tom Hanson, president of the Prairie Pothole Conservation Association, said the organizers believe attendance was down some from previous years, possibly due to the cloudy, rain-threatening sky.

The good news: He's never seen as many youths at the event as was the case this year, which makes this one of the best.

He is among roughly 100 volunteers who devote many hours to making this event possible. "It keeps us busy for a month and a half, put it that way," said Hanson when asked what it all takes.

There was a lot to enjoy. This year's event featured the full range of activities that makes Prairie Pothole Day this area's biggest and best-known outdoor extravaganza.

This marked the first Prairie Pothole Day absent Roger Strand, who died June 6 at age 87. Strand opened this property for the event all of these years as part of his passion for introducing families and young people to the outdoors.

We offer a look at some of the activities with this photo feature by West Central Tribune photojournalist Macy Moore.