It was fun and games earlier this month, when Kettle River-Buckhorn’s (KRB) marked the 59th annual Prospectors’ Day in Republic, Washington and the state’s 110-year mining history.
The Kinross-sponsored event brought KRB employees and the community together for a two-day festival that included mining competitions and panning for gold.
The mining competition included hand mucking, jackleg drilling and spike driving. It was a tough battle for the top spot, but Eric Hewitt, Mill Mechanic, Kettle River-Buckhorn was the top KRB employee in the ‘Best All-Around Miner’.
“Prospectors’ Day is a big part of the community history and a great way to commemorate the long-standing relationship with mining in Republic,” said Deana Zakar, Government and Community Relations, Kettle River-Buckhorn.
Watch videos of Falcon Price, Operations Manager, in the jackleg competition and Chuck Blasey, Mine Superintendent, in the spike driving contest on Kettle River Buckhorn’s Facebook page.
Chuck Hill, Buckhorn Underground Shift Supervisor, preparing to judge the jackleg competition
