It has been a bit of a roller coaster, weather-wise, here in Faribault County this summer.

If you live here, you have probably noticed it. In fact, it has been a series of weather events all summer, not just here, but basically all across Minnesota, the Midwest and heck, actually all across the whole U.S.

It is August and my lawn is still green and lush – and needs to be mowed at least once a week if not more. Gardens and plants are big and tall, and that includes cornfields that look as good as I have seen them in a while.

Remember that drought everyone was worried about the last couple of summer seasons? I think that drought is officially over. It seems to rain about every other day here, or at least once each week for sure. And sometimes that rain comes in the form of storms.

We are not alone in this. Al Roker on the Today Show has no problem talking about some rainy or stormy weather – or excessive heat – somewhere in the country every single day. I mean, it was 118 degrees in Phoenix this week. And Texas, which I usually think of as kind of dry, has had tons of rain and bad floods to prove it.

We are used to different weather conditions here in Minnesota. It can be hot and humid and two days later you need a sweatshirt or a raincoat. Of course, the heat and humidity usually translate to thunderstorms later in the evening.

We have had some rain during some summer events this year. Like at the opening night of the county fair. In fact, most of our small-town celebrations have had to keep an eye on the skies this summer, just hoping they can hold everything that is being planned.

One example is the fireworks at this year’s Giant Days. They started early and just got them done before the rains came.

This week it is Relay for Life and Kernel Days in Wells. The weather forecast for Friday night and Saturday morning is a bit “iffy” and we are also hoping and keeping fingers crossed that these wonderful events can be held without any rain delays.

It was just two years ago that a bad thunderstorm brought a halt to Relay for Life and ended it early.

So much hard work and effort goes into putting on these events, so it is tough when the weather does not cooperate and the people stay away.

As I have written in this space in the past, Relay for Life does hold a special place in my heart. Like so many folks, I have been affected by having family members having some form of cancer. My granddad, father and younger brother all died from cancer. My mother, father-in-law and mother-in-law had it. Now, one of my very best friends is battling cancer.

I am sure you have the same situation, knowing someone close who has had, or does now have, cancer of some form.

It is too late for me to urge you to attend Relay for Life, since by the time this issue of the Register hits the stands, the Relay will be over. But I hope you did go. And if you didn’t, I still hope you will support it in the future. And I have my fingers crossed that it did not rain or storm during it this year.

One thing I can urge you to attend is another event, on Wednesday of this week. It is a presentation by the Southern Minnesota Museum of Natural History (the Dinosaur Museum). It is the author of a very interesting book about a woman fossil hunter.

The event is at the Blue Earth Community Library and it is free admission and you can even get a free meal. More information is in a story and an ad in this issue.

And if it rains on Wednesday, at least the event is indoors (at three locations no less!).

Attendance at some events this summer seems to be down some from past years. Maybe it is the weather. Maybe it is due to COVID when people got used to staying home. Maybe it is because we all live very busy lives. And things do seem to be busier than they used to be.

But, hopefully, you have found some time this summer to get out and enjoy what all has been going on around Faribault County.

And please don’t let a little rainy or hot and humid weather keep you from enjoying these events.

To paraphrase Chamber Focus writer Lill Robinson, “There always seems to be something going on in Faribault County!”