Git-R-Done Gang Gets It Done Once Again

By Lynn Kutter

ENTERPRISE-LEADER

PRAIRIE GROVE -- The finish for the 2018 Peggy Parks Memorial Square Dance Competition had a familiar ring to it.

For the second year in a row, Git-R-Done Gang won the competition and "bragging rights" for the next year. The dance group scored 575 points, the most scored since the competition changed from a one-day event to a two-day event. The Gang earned 288 points on Saturday and 287 points on Monday.

Hoot 'N Holler came in second place with 564 points. It also was the second-place winner in 2017.

Dixie Dynamite and Grin & Square It tied for third place with 556 point a piece in this year's competition. Last year, Dixie Dynamite finished in third place and Grin & Square It received honorable mention.

The first-place team won $400, a bag of lollipops from Ozark Delight Candy Co., and a free pizza from Jim's Razorback Pizza. The other teams also won lollipops, pizza and cash prizes.

Both Git-R-Done Gang and Hoot 'N Holler are made up of seniors and they all were performing for the last time at the Clothesline Fair.

Taylor Hawkins with Git-R-Done said the group practiced twice a week for one to two hours to prepare for the competition. The team has been together since most of them were 4 years old.

Hawkins said he's stayed with it all the years because square dancing in Prairie Grove is the community coming together and because of the chance to dance with his friends.

Members of the Spectaculars Square Dance Group from Northeast Oklahoma Square Dance Association judged the competition.

Sue McCoy, who has square danced for 39 nine years, said the competition was close, a lot closer than last year's dance off.

She was impressed with all the groups. She said the Git-R-Done Gang was her top pick because of their "very high energy and their enthusiasm."

For 2018, almost 600 kids participated in square dancing. During the afternoon sessions, 56 groups gave exhibition square dances. During the evening, 16 groups competed for the coveted first place award. On Labor Day, the square dance group, Sooie Swingers, had to pull out because one of the members was hurt and could not dance.