In a seemingly depressing, mad world, there is hope.

We have endured the constant threat of an invisible virus for two years, and now a war. As we trudge through our daily tasks looking for the stress and anxiety to pass, our community proved that things aren’t so dark and bleak.

The reprieve from what is so annoyingly coined “the new normal” came from a sport first developed in the area now in arms in central Asia and Russia. Norwegian for “ski-driving,” skijoring has become a new pasttime in Skowhegan during the annual Snowfest week, hosted by Main Street Skowhegan and Lake George Regional Park. The sport, first introduced to America in the early 1900s, is based on a skier or snowboarder being pulled by a rope attached to a horse, around a track with jumps. Sounds safe, right?

Last Saturday’s skijoring event was only one of many activities that the community participated in over the week-long celebration of outdoor recreation in our area. A box sled derby, downhill kayak race, Ice Hole World Championships, ice fishing derby, and a multitude of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and outdoor cooking opportunities were provided to community members looking for smiles and warm hearts.

The main event, Skijoring, was held at the Skowhegan State Fair on Feb. 25. The skijoring track is built on the harness racing track in front of the grandstands. Four jumps for the pro division and two three-jump rollers for the novice divisions. On two of the jumps, the pro skiers have the opportunity to shave time off by picking up rings. Each year, Sugarloaf Mountain donates a snow cat for a few days and a groomer to develop the track.

Two-thousand fans were in attendance to see the thrills and spills. Nearly 50 horses and 50 skiers and snowboarders participated.

So, now, here is the heart-warming part. Although for most, the event seemed to go without a hitch. But as I worked with Main Street and Lake George and its volunteers the week leading up to the event, it was not all unicorns and rainbows.

Wednesday, we assessed the track and parking areas: six inches of ice covered everything. What wasn’t ice was slush and water. Ice, slush and water does not mix well with 2,000 spectators and 50 horses.

Thursday, as the snow cat was supposed to be delivered for preparing the track, a miscommunication created a last-minute prayer. There was no truck or trailer to haul down the cat. A phone call to Mike Obert of DMO Landscaping solved that. He sent his son David to get the cat immediately, and we were grooming by noon. No questions asked.

Friday, beer. As with any event at the Skowhegan State Fair, the beer tent is always open for business. But how were we going to get a tractor trailer to the stable through ice, slush, and an untouched fairgrounds? A crew of brave Hight Ford men and women transferred the beer, water and soda to the beer tent in a four-wheel drive box truck. Only a few beers were hurt (spent?) in the transfer.

And then, thank you Mother Nature. Five inches of fresh powder gently landed on the hallowed grounds of the nation’s oldest agricultural fair (1818). And thank you for plowing equipment. Between Corey Hight, Walter Hight, Adam Orser and Paul York of York’s Landscaping, we were open for business by the time the horse trailers arrived at 9 a.m.

Saturday. Cold. But hopeful.

Joel, of Sugarloaf, finished grooming the track to beautiful precision. Main Street and Lake George volunteers cleared the snow off the grandstands and stable. Paul York finished plowing and sanding the parking areas (having to return later in the day because we ran out of parking!).

I had the pleasure to host the event. Five hours on the microphone, commentating the greatest event in the history of mankind. Why so great? Not necessarily because of well-trained horses and riders, crazy skiers, and the beer, chili, pizza, and hot dogs (although each were as impressive as could be).

But, because of community.

We have a community of leaders, volunteers, do-gooders, and great neighbors.

Kristina Cannon, executive director of Main Street Skowhegan, Darryll White, director of Lake George Regional Park, their staff and their volunteers were unbelievable. In a few hours, they transformed a snow covered fair into the Northeast Equestrian Skijoring Regionals — Maine’s first and New England’s only equestrian skijoring competition (I don’t know if Topsham is a sanctioned event, but I am writing this article so it doesn’t count).

Two-thousand spectators, horses, riders, and drivers, all spent a day in our lovely Skowhegan, celebrating outdoor recreation, friendship, and fun competition. I talked to people from the local community (never shutting off the microphone), and folks from as far away as Minnesota, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and our other neighboring New England States. The common sentiment: hope, laughter, and relief.

We sang “Happy Birthday” to Bob from Pennsylvania. We attempted a “Sweet Caroline” singalong (I have a terrible voice and I am not much of a band leader). We laughed. We gasped (a few close calls on the track). We ate. We drank. We shot T-shirts out of a cannon. We put our faces in the warm sun. We watched kids from infant to 80 years old giggle. Five hours of fresh Maine air (I did try to stop talking for a few moments to take in some oxygen).

Hope, laughter, and relief.

We are lucky.

Thank you, Skowhegan. Thank you, people who care and want to make a difference. Thank you, volunteers. Thank you, friends and neighbors. Thank you, sponsors and last-minute helpers. Thank you, riders, horses, and drivers.

This is what Skowhegan is. A community of diverse neighbors that care. That believe in Skowhegan.

Let’s all make the new normal, as annoying as it is, positive. Supporting, believing and accepting our neighbors. Whether it be on a snowy race tracks filled with knuckleheads, schools, shops, streets, or the greater state, country, or world.

Sam Hight lives in Skowhegan.

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