​OCTOBER 24 & 25, 2025
"The Night Before" & 4th Annual Save the Pumpkins

The Fourth Annual Save the Pumpkins was held on October 25, 2025, in downtown Burwell, Nebraska.  “The Night Before” Vendor Show & Race Packet Pickup was held at The Hitching Post.  Race participants were able to pick up their race packets, as well as sip, shop, and browse "The Night Before" vendors. The vendors included: B' Burnt Brims, Sandhills Strong, The Green Thumb – Coffee & Hometown Store, Melham Medical Center, Painted Pony Ink, Velocity Storm Solutions, Burwell Community Memorial Health Center, Valley County Health System, The Hitching Post, and The Brandin’ Iron.
 
The event had 77 generous sponsors, 37 incredible volunteers, and 168 amazing participants that signed up for the 5k Run/Walk, or One Mile Fun Run/Walk.  Throughout the day you could enjoy a pancake feed put on by Kelly & Marcia Horner, sponsored by Burwell Get Fit and Burwell Shurfine Food Center. Many participants also signed up for the costume contest. Alan Gabriel dressed as White Goodman was awarded the highly coveted individual costume contest plaque. New this year was a group costume plaque and was awarded to The Miller Family dressed as a pink jazzercize team.  Kayann Skibinski was the lucky winner of the Key to Burwell Prize Package.
 
Our wonderful sponsors, community, volunteers and the amazing participants helped Sandhills Strong have a successful Fourth Annual Save the Pumpkins.

​THE FOURTH ANNUAL SAVE THE PUMPKINS RAISED A TOTAL OF: $22,277.02

 
 
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Congratulations to all of the 5K Participants!

12 & Under Female 5K Winners
1st Amya Roth 32:39
2nd Natlie Woodward 33:57
3rd Elaina Shoemaker 50:41
 
12 & Under Male 5K Winners
1st Kaden Miller 23:19
2nd Fin Trausch 25:10
3rd Grant Roberts 32:28
 
13-19 Female 5K Winners
1st Lena Spencer 20:47
2nd Charlotte Seamann 28:11
3rd Lou Marechalle 38:07
 
13-19 Male 5K Winners
1st JJ Maynard 19:46
2nd Sully Trausch 22:48
 
20-30’s Female 5K Winners
1st Lindsay Smith 26:31
2nd Gracie Rock 26:54
3rd Justina Roth 33:59
 
20-30’s Male 5K Winners
1st Clayton Hensley 25:20
2nd Jake Delwiler 25:25
3rd Benjamin Burris 26:23
 
40-50’s Female 5K Winners
1st Kelsey Trausch 27:48
2nd Kristi Wetzel 28:18
3rd Crystal Ramm 29:57
 
40-50’s Male 5K Winners
1st Erik Richardson 28:33
2nd Levi Miller 30:11
3rd Kyle Kellum 30:19
 
60 & Over Female 5K Winners
1st Peggy Jorgensen 41:08
2nd Tess Sinner 41:37
3rd Brenda Holmquist, Carolyn Christen & Nancy Jeffres 50:38
 
60 & Over Male 5K Winners
1st Brian Bergt 20:54
2nd Vernon Robbins 26:41
 
Overall Female 5K Winner
Lena Spencer 20:47
 
Overall Male 5K Winner
JJ Maynard 19:46