Highland Games come to Prineville

Saturday brought the second annual Pioneer Summer Fest in Prineville, and this year they added something different — the Highland Games.

The games featured nine different events like the caber (think a big log or phone pole) toss, hammer throw and weight over bars.

Not many people are familiar with the games, so I went out to learn all about them.

It’s said that the games date all the way back to the Scottish 18th century. Fast forward about 300 years, and people are still competing today.

But what makes the games so appealing?

“Being able to throw something heavy, like a really long distance,” Aimee Priest said. “I don’t know, it’s gratifying. It feels really good.”

Another reason is the camaraderie. Tom Keffer has been competing for four years and said everyone is friendly.

“There’s people all over here that live hundreds of miles apart, and they’re standing around slapping jaws like they live in the same town or they are neighbors,” Keffer said.

The games even come equipped with a special wardrobe. Keffer said. Once you wear the Scottish kilt, you won’t want to take it off.

“I fish in mine, I work in mine, I hang out on the weekends in mine, when I leave here today I’ll wear it all the way back home,” Keffer said. “They’re comfortable — they’re amazingly comfortable to compete in.”

Priest was encouraged to compete by a friend and has done it once before. With Saturday being only her second time, she wanted to manage her expectations.

“Finish all the events — that’s really it, and have fun,” Priest said. “If I can get a personal record, a PR, then even better.”

Overall, in the Highland Games community, they encourage anyone to compete.

“We’ve got school teachers, police officers, retired people — every walk of life comes out here and throws,” Keffer said.

Right now to compete you have to be at least 18 years old, or have parental consent. With its growing popularity, Keffer said he wants to start kids’ throws in the area.