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By ELLEN MORTENSEN
Chief Assistant Editor
Another Junk Jaunt is in the books, and by all accounts from both vendors and jaunters, the fifth annual event was a big success.
With 25 communities along the Loup River and Sandhills Journey Scenic Byways, and a number of others off the loop participating the in the jaunt, bargain seekers had a lot to choose from. Whether you were looking for antiques, homemade craft items, clothing, or more unique one-of-a-kind items, chances are it could be found somewhere along the 300-mile journey.
I, too, am one of those avid bargain hunters and was among the thousands who took advantage of this year’s sales. Each year I and my junk jaunt crew vow that next year we will make the full route - that is yet to happen! However, we did cover a lot of territory, met a lot of great people and picked up some nifty little treasures.
What fascinates me the most on the journey is the number of people involved and where all they come from to take part in this event. Several vendors offer guest books where they encourage visitors to sign in, allowing them to keep track of not only the number of visitors but the distances they have traveled.
One vendor in Ord told me in the five years of the jaunt, he has had visitors from 48 states - and that was early on Saturday. I didn’t get a chance to check back in to see how they finished up this year.
I personally saw license plates from Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, South Dakota, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan, California and New Jersey, as well as nearly every county in Nebraska. And everyone I talked to was having a great time.
For many, the Junk Jaunt has become the yearly vacation. Others, like Carol and Gary Konz, pick up antique items to take back to their store in Colorado. I first met the Konz’s at the 2006 jaunt at Urwiller’s Melon Patch near Ravenna.
At that time, the Konz’s shared with me that they were disappointed in the number of vendors they found in Broken Bow. They, like several others, also shared that they would like to see more food stands and bathrooms along the route.
When I spotted this Konz’s this year, again at the melon patch, I was anxious to hear how their weekend had gone, since this was late Sunday afternoon. Both were brimming with the same level of enthusiasm and excitement that drew me to them two years ago.
“You should see our truck this year,” Gary exclaimed. “It is so full we can barely get the door shut!”
The couple was full of positive comments and praised the vendors for listening to the suggestions of the jaunters.
“We noticed that this year there were more food stands, and several vendors had porta-potties set up,” said Carol. “That just proves that our suggestions and comments are being listened to, and we appreciate that.”
Carol and Gary also had positive things to say about their stop in Broken Bow, noting the increase in the number of vendors in the community and the fact that so many of them remained open on Sunday.
“Last year we didn’t get a chance to go to the fairgrounds in Broken Bow because they weren’t open on Sunday,” said Carol. “This year many of the vendors were open on Sunday, so that was a really good thing.”
One vendor in Litchfield summed it up very well. “The Junk Jaunt is the best thing that has ever happened to central Nebraska. It has put us on the map. I don’t know for sure who came up with the idea, but they deserve a big pat on the back.”
So, hat’s off to the Loup Rivers and Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway committees for a great five years of junk jaunting. Most of us already have our calendars marked for year six! |
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