Bean baggers overcome Old Man Winter

Thirty-six teams compete for cash prizes downtown

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Juliana Koberg, left, is pictured with Jonathon "J.J." Johnson of New Ulm in pool play at the 3rd Annual Baggin' in the Street Bean Bag Tournament in downtown New Ulm Satuday.

NEW ULM — Thirty-six bean bag teams from as far away as the Twin Cities metro area battled snow flurries for cash prizes in the third annual Baggin’ in the Street Bean Bag Tournament downtown Saturday.

Pool play competitors included Juliana Koberg of New Ulm who said she was curious about the event and entered this year for the first time. She talked about why she competed.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to bring people out in the winter and have a good time,” she said. “I think it’s great the City of New Ulm hosts the event. I’m enjoying my time in New Ulm. I think it’s a great community with a lot of cool events for people.”

Originally from Brazil, Koberg, who owns a commercial and residential cleaning business, said she played soccer in her younger days.

Her first pool play bean bag partner was Jonathon “J.J.” Johnson of New Ulm.

“I’ve been here for all three bean bag tournaments. I enjoyed every one of them,” he said. “It’s a good time. You get to test your bean bag prowess. Everybody gets together. Nobody gets upset about the outcome. I enjoy it so much, I’ll keep doing it until I can’t anymore.”

A retired 3M employee, he formerly coached high school soccer and middle school track.

Across the parking lot from Koberg and Jonathon Johnson was his son-in-law, Troy Johnson of New Ulm and his pool play partner Megan Swenstad of New Ulm.

“I’m here for the tournament for the second time. It’s bags. I love doing bags,” said Troy Johnson. “I throw them a lot in the summer time, especially while camping. It’s my pastime. It’s great. The snow falling adds an extra challenge.”

An electrician at New Ulm Current, Troy Johnson is also an Air National Guard retiree who also served in the Army and Air Force. He deployed to three Middle East campaigns including Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving in Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar during his 20 years of military service.

Swenstad, a dog groomer, said she enjoys being outside for a community event.

Other competitors said they felt the tournament was a good way to break up the winter blahs and said they’d return in the future no matter how cold it was outside or how much snow there was.

Cash payouts were awarded to the top six teams that competed in a parking lot behind the B & L Bar. Funds raised at the event support promoting New Ulm through the New Ulm Business & Retail Association which is part of the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce.

: Staff photo by Fritz Busch Juliana Koberg, left, is pictured with Jonathon “J.J.” Johnson of New Ulm in pool play at the 3rd Annual Baggin’ in the Street Bean Bag Tournament in downtown New Ulm Satuday.