In Bristol, Vermont, the Sodbusters Horseshoe Club has been running its summer league for 59 years. That’s nearly six decades of players gathering in the evening to pitch horseshoes at a stake, and one of them happens to be a world champion. Debra Brown has won 24 state titles, nine New England titles, and a world championship. Her husband Mike introduced her to the sport in 1980, and the family tradition continued with their niece Brianna McCormack, a junior world champion with 14 Vermont girls state titles.
What keeps people coming back isn’t trophies. Players talk about enjoyment, relaxation, and the camaraderie of an evening spent outside with neighbors. Brown keeps it humble, saying she’s not a celebrity, she just loves the game. But she’s also honest about the challenge: the sport isn’t as popular as it once was, and without kids coming up through the ranks, there’s no future for it.
That’s a story plenty of communities around the Suncoast understand. Whether it’s an arts tradition, a local league, or a neighborhood gathering, the things we love stick around only when somebody new learns to love them too. Maybe there’s a club near you that could use a fresh face this season.
What tradition in your community would you hate to see disappear?
