With the howdys and the yeehaws done for another year, the 31st annual Magna Hoedown has raised $517,800 for 20 local charities.
The massive tent at the “Magna Corral” provided a weekend’s worth of entertainment and Texas-style grub, with headliner James Barker Band getting a stompin’, hollerin’ welcome from about 4,000 fans Saturday night as they returned to “local” pastures for the second time in as many years.
“It’s local, we know a lot of people here,” Bobby Martin said in a backstage chat before the show about playing close to home (which is Ajax, Barrie and Lindsay area) for himself, Taylor Abram, Connor Stephen and lead singer James Barker.
Friday’s thunderstorm didn’t deter the festivities in the tent as headliner Alan Doyle took to the stage.
The entertainment Friday and Saturday included plenty of emerging country artists who have competed in the Magna Showdown offshoot event.
Saturday’s Showdown Showcase, featuring former winners Brad Battle, Mac Shepherd, John Anderson and Vicki Biersteker, performing with country music artist and Showdown mentor Beverley Mahood, was the highlight of the 31st event, according to Steve Hinder, Magna Hoedown chairperson.
“They are amazing, I heard their sound check today — I think people are going to be shocked at the level of talent,” he said. “What’s happened every year as the Showdown has become more popular and more known, the level of talent has risen accordingly. It’s really really difficult as a judge to make the decision about the winner.”
This year’s winner, Dayna Reid of Elmvale, a runner-up in last year’s competition, has “an amazing voice and presence,” Hinder added.
“What’s really exciting is watching our very own home-grown (artists) perform, because they’re all great people. That’s part of our criteria, what we look at, we want someone who’s going to be an advocate, someone who is going to represent Magna, because everyone knows where they came from,” Hinder said. “That’s really important to us, that we pick good people.”
Every year, the organizers “refine” the event and add new options, he added, which this year included bringing back the silent auction to add to the amount of money raised.
A Stouffville man literally danced on the table Saturday night on winning the grand prize of $100,000 in the Prospector’s Raffle.
“It’s still amazes me that Magna for 31 years is doing this — you know, it’s the largest fundraiser in York Region,” said Hinder.
The Magna Hoedown has donated more that $13 million to York Region charities in its 31-year history.
