An impromptu conversation over beers has led to the launch of the First Annual Fathers Day Lawnmower Race on June 14 at Moosehorn Lodge, organized by the Southside Lawnmower Racing Association.

鈥淚 got invited over to Moosehorn Lodge. I鈥檓 friends with the owners there, and we were having a cold beer one evening," said organizer Jay Wiebe. "I had blown up my lawn mower, and I decided I was going to put a quad engine in my lawn mower, and the owner of Moosehorn just popped up the idea, 鈥榃ell, why don鈥檛 we start a lawn mower race thing?鈥欌��

From that spur-of-the-moment idea, a full-scale community event was born. The race will be held the Saturday before Father鈥檚 Day to allow participants to spend the holiday itself with family.

The event is shaping up to be more than just a race.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got quite the venue,鈥� Wiebe said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got a live band, the local live band Dead Horse Hill will be playing, and I might be adding another one to that list. We鈥檝e got a food truck coming out, Grumpy Gal Grub, and we also have a couple of the local businesses like Tatalrose [Corner] Store and Takysie Resort. They are going to have booths there as well with some of their swag and snacks."

Safety is a priority.

鈥淭here will be no blades allowed,鈥� said Wiebe. 鈥淵ou are allowed to have your deck on your lawn mower, but there will be no blades. And there will be safety switches in place. So if you fall off your lawn mower, you鈥檒l trip a safety device that will shut your lawnmower down. And we will be inspecting that before the racers are allowed to race their machines.鈥�

There will also be a drag race-style exhibition and an 80-foot mud pit open for ATVs and UTVs.

鈥淲e are also digging an 80-foot mud pit for people to bring their ATVs and UTVs to be able to do some mudding,鈥� Wiebe added.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth, with the competitor entry fee coming in at $35. It is a cash-only event.

Wiebe said the race is not-for-profit. 鈥淎ny of the funds that roll in from entry fees and stuff like that will be just rolled back in to prize money and stuff like that.鈥�

Other amenities include nearby cabins and campsites, a mobile barber shop called Cut and Run, and treats like cotton candy, snow cones, and popcorn. 鈥淏eing Father鈥檚 Day, if anybody wants to get a Father鈥檚 Day beard trim or haircut, we鈥檝e got Cut and Run mobile barber shop coming out,鈥� Wiebe said.

Wiebe, a father of three, hopes his own kids will join the fun. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping that I can convince them to get in. They鈥檒l be there for sure.鈥�

Interest is already growing. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got about 10 entries so far locked in. But I imagine that number is going to bump up,鈥� Wiebe said. 鈥淚 have a friend that鈥檚 going to talk to the Vanderhoof Lawnmower Association and see if they would like to check it out.鈥�

For those looking to join, 鈥渢here is a Facebook page, it鈥檚 the Southside Lawnmower Racing Association, and I can be reached through there,鈥� he said. Wiebe can also be reached by email at SLRAmoosehorn@outlook.com.