The Green Country Hamfest in Claremore, Oklahoma, is one of the best hamfests in the region. It has a large venue, good forums and is well-attended. This year, there seemed to be fewer tables and we’re hoping that’s not a trend. Claremore is a 1.5 hour drive from our part of Northwest Arkansas, so it’s an easy trip. It’s become an annual trek for us, as has going to the Joplin and Ft. Smith hamfests.
This year, we enjoyed the company of Bill KØDEW and Mike WB9M. They are putting on the ARRL Midwest Division Convention in Lebanon, Mo., on November 8 & 9, 2013. Nathan KF5OQB (soon to be K5KAC) joined us, as well.
Sensing a good promotional opportunity, we took these Ham Hijinks flyers with us and dropped them on the entrance table. It remains unclear if anyone actually picked one up.
Some observations:
- The spurrious emissions coming from the men’s restrooms were quite impressive. They really should put a door on that facility.
- Fist bumping the chocolate fountain at Golden Corral is frowned upon. We were, however, very impressed with the mil-spec heavy-duty sneeze guard in front of the fountain.
- Bill and Mike each bought weather stations.
- Nathan purchased what we think is either a big heat sink or a VHF amp of some sort. It wasn’t labled, but it was CHEAP! It has a really neat-sounding throw switch. We’re not sure what the switch does (it wasn’t labeled, either).
- Once again, no one in our group won a door prize.
It was truly an epic ham radio day – we went to a hamfest, had lunch at a Golden Corral and one person in our group was recovering from surgery. That’s how it’s done.
HAMFEST SCORE: 9 out of 10 *
*Score would be a 10 if we had won a door prize. Keep that in mind for next year, Green Country.
(L to R) Kevin K5KVN, Nathan KF5OQB, Andy K5PO, Gary WBØRUR
Check out that mil-spec sneeze guard!
Chocolate fountains are rare as chocolate fountains at hamfests up our way. We tend to find freestyle-plumbed vintage water fountains, often next to the guy hawking used PC keyboards in a rainbow of artisinal stains. Your ample lighting also adds a festive touch that could brighten some of our Mordor Grange Hall venues.