When spring arrives many folks tell me that they are awakened by the birds singing outside their windows in the early morning. That would be a wonderful way to wake up. However, I am awakened by the sound of pheasants calling! I am not sure if they spent the winter in my grove, but they certainly are talking everything over in the early morning. Our weatherman continues to be very stingy with the amount of rain we receive. It seems to miss us nearly every time while others received several inches. I think we received two-tenths of an inch this week. When you drive down the highways the fields are crawling with machinery of all kinds. The old saying of "making hay while the sun shines" really doesn’t apply this early in the season. But just remember the farmers can’t wait to get out into their precious fields. If you want to talk to them the rest of the season he will be in his fields doing whatever is the most urgent at that time of the year.Remember, farmers are married to their land and they are the happiest when they can be out in their fields, planting, disking, cultivating and enjoying every minute of it. They remind me of little boys wanting to go outside on a rainy day. They just can’t wait to get out into their beloved fields and "play in the dirt" I should say soil! Just remember when they are in the fields — get out of their way! The Steen Opportunity Extension Club had their annual tour on Tuesday. They enjoyed their lunch at the Eat’em Café in Canton, S.D. Following the lunch they enjoyed a tour of one of the homes there. They continued their tour by going to Sioux Falls where they toured the "Butterfly House" before returning home. Lillian (Aukes) Aueson, Ruthton, and Verla Baker were Tuesday afternoon visitors in the Orrin and Bernice Aukes home. They also visited in the Laura Paulsen home in Hills. Hills-Beaver Creek Junior-Senior Prom was Friday evening, April 25. The theme for the evening was "One Night in Paris." Supper was served and the Grand March was at the H-BC High School. The after prom event was at Beaver Creek Golf Course from midnight until 4 a.m. The event was sponsored by the junior class parents. On Sunday, April 27, the Dries Bosch family celebrated three birthdays in the home of Tom and Amy Bosch in Sioux Falls. Those having birthdays were Laura May Bosch, Emma Bosch, Tom and Amy’s daughter, and Tom. Others attending were Paul and Diane Bosch and Eric from Brandon. A mother-daughter banquet, sponsored by the Girls’ League of Steen Reformed Church will be Wednesday May 7, at Steen Reformed Church. For reservations call Dolly Van DeWeerd or Eunice Roozenboom. Henrietta Wassenaar entered Luverne Community Hospital on Tuesday for tests and was transferred to Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center on Friday.Raelyn Grace, infant daughter of Glen and Connie Vande Kamp was baptized in Steen Reformed Church during their morning worship service on Sunday. Evelyn Tilstra entered Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls on Tuesday. Mildred Paulsen was among those from the Steen area who attended the wedding of Darla Kracht, daughter of Bert and Theo Kracht of Beaver Creek, to Michael Kirchmier at First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Creek Saturday afternoon. The reception was at Beaver Lodge following the ceremony. Rich Van Der Brink had corrective knee surgery on Friday at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls. The Doyle family gathered at Magnolia Steak House in Luverne on Thursday evening, April 24, to welcome their sister, Alice and Ron Ehrisman, home from Scottsdale, Ariz., where they had spent the winter. Those attending were Margaret and Harold Schlimgren, Lee and Edwina Rust, all from Luverne, Kay Cox, Adrian, and Dries and Laura May Bosch, Steen.The Paulsen family had a belated Easter dinner on Sunday at Luverne Pizza Ranch. Those attending were Mark and Lisa Paulsen and three children, Marshall, Glen and Marla Paulsen and two children, Sioux Falls, Laura Paulsen, Hills, and Melvin and JoAnn Paulsen, Steen.Time was when spring arrived it was baseball season and you could hear the call "batter up" loud and clear. In today’s world one hardly knows which sport is in season. It keeps every one busy going to football games, track, golf, tennis, hockey and the list could go on and on. There are times I wonder when the students have time to eat to say nothing of getting their homework done.Sports were supposed to teach young and old alike to be good sports. That certainly has not been happening in our world today. Every day we read where an umpire or referee has been a victim of those attending the game, whatever one it could be, because they disagreed with their decision. Now wait a minute, don’t we all know that very few of us think alike nor do we see the plays made in a ball game the same. We all know one cannot please everyone. My dad always told me your team is going to win a few but they are also going to lose a few. Very few ever win them all! I thought sports were supposed to teach "Good Sportsmanship." But, I am having my doubts now. So, when I saw this article "Ten Commandments for Sportsmen" I decided we could all share it and hopefully renew some of the things we had been taught when we were growing up. 1. Thou shalt not quit.2. Thou shalt not alibi.3. Thou shall not gloat over winning.4. Thou shalt not sulk over losing.5. Thou shalt not take unfair advantage.6. Thou shalt not ask odds that are unwilling to give. 7. Thou shalt always be willing to give your opponent a hand shake. 8. Thou shalt not underestimate an opponent or overestimate yourself.9. Remember the game is the thing and who thinks otherwise is not a true sportsman. 10. Honor the game you play, for he who plays the game straight and hard, wins even when he loses. This was written by Hugh S. Fullerton probably many years ago but I think they still apply today. I can remember growing up and being taught all of the above. Somewhere along the way we have been neglecting to emphasize these thoughts today. I hope this will remind those of us who were taught these rules to teach other children so that they can be Good Sportsmen in our world today.Remember it’s not whether you win or whether you lose but it is how the game is played that counts!
