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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2016-09-07, Page 112 Lucknow Sentinel • Wednesday, September 7, 2016 Lucknow's engagement in the fields Darryl Coote Reporter The breeze was strong and suggested thunderstorms could be near, but otherwise one couldn't have asked for a better night. In front of about 7,000 screaming people, with coun- try music star Lee Brice per- forming, Brady Kram, 20, took his then girlfriend Felicity Hill- iard, 21, by the hand and pulled her on stage and asked her that life -altering question: Will you many me? And it all started with a joke. About a year before Kram joshed his high school sweet- heart Hilliard about the idea of proposing to her on stage during Lucknow's Music in the Fields. "It was an old joke that we never really discussed again," Hilliard said in a telephone interview Sept. 1. However, Kram remembered. A couple months before Lucknow's Music in the Fields, which ran Aug. 25-27, 2016, he was talking to his mother about possible pro- posal ideas when she said she works with someone who is connected to the country music festival. "When I was talking to my mom and she said she knew a guy who actually worked there who could make this thing happen I thought about how funny it would be to look back on how we were joking about it a year before," Kram said. And the scheme was set in motion. The colleague of Kram's mother got in touch with Lee Brice's manager and then Kram had to send the country music star's crew a letter explaining his relationship with Hilliard and his intentions. And it was ago. "I had no idea of any of this at all," said Hilliard. On Saturday, Aug. 27, the day of the proposal, Kram and Hilliard were hanging out with friends and family at their campsite on the festival grounds when someone from Music in the Fields came by looking for Hilliard. "I was told I'd won back- stage passes and they gave me a vip pass and everything to get backstage," she said. The man then gave her the two passes and said everyone who bought tickets for the festival automatically had their name entered into a draw. "So I was a little confused," said Hilliard. "I was shocked that I'd won out of all the peo- ple that were there. I ques- tioned it for a moment, but at that point it was just really legit and it was so thorough I didn't doubt it," she said. The man also informed her that she could take one other person with her. Asked what he would have done if Hilliard had picked someone else, Kram said, "You know what, we didn't really think that through." Thankfully, after Kram made her a convincing sales pitch, she picked her boy- friend of five years. "At that point we got ready for the day and we hung out. It was actually really relaxed the entire day through," she said. "I was not relaxed whatso- ever," Kram added. The threat of rain made him doubly nervous. If the skies did open up and the concert cancelled he didn't have a plan B. However, the rain stayed at bay, and when Lee Brice, the event's headliner, started to perform, the couple was watching from backstage. Then after the third or fourth song of the set, Brice called their names and invited them on stage. "I was so surprised," said Hilliard. "It was at that point in time I thought something was going to happen ... I was just covering my mouth because I was in so much shock and I was in awe because it was then I knew ... It was jaw dropping:' "Crazy is the only way I can kind of describe it. I wasn't expecting it by any means. I was just trying to take in what was happening. I didn't even really pay attention to the crowd at that point. The lights were so bright and all you could hear was the crowd cheering. Yeah, it was crazy;" she said. And he asked. And she said yes. "I was ecstatic," Kram said on her accepting his proposal, `... For a long time I've pic- tured our lives together and I knew this was a big first step to that perfect image" Then they had their first dance as an engaged couple before thousands "I don't know if the stage is actually small, but it felt so tiny. I just remember looking down and feeling like I was going to fall into the crowd," she said. But when they left the stage, the party wasn't done. Hordes of people approached them to congratulate them on their engagement, to take pictures Felicity Hilliard, right, backstage during Lucknow's Music in the Fields, moments before her then boyfriend Brady Kram surprised her by taking her on stage to propose. Submitted Brady Kram, left, proposes to Felicity Hilliard on the main stage of Lucknow's Music in the Fields in front of thousands of people with them and to gaze on Bill- iard's ring. It took them an hour to get back to their campsite and to celebrate with their family. "It went perfectly," Kram said. "I couldn't have asked for it to have gone any better. Just the look on her face when I asked made it all worth the wait and set up." Felicity said they will wait until she is finished school before they web, but she'd "love" a fall wedding in Sep- tember 2018. Three days of events to keep families busy at 153rd Lucknow Fall Fair CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 1 Phillip and Henry's Magic Show will run at 2:30 p.m. before the arena closes at 4:15 p.m. The evening events feature a pub and wing night, youth dance at 7 p.m., followed by Yuk Yuks Stand Up Comedy at 8 p.m. Sunday's events kick off with the Fair Breakfast from 8:30-11:30 a.m., followed by the Light Horse Show and Community Church Service at 10 a.m. A Pet Show takes place at noon, with 'Touch The Truck' for children running at 1 p.m. For more information and a full schedule visit lucknow- agsociety.ca 2016 Lucknow Ambassador Bios Senior Sadie Scott Sadie is the 17 year old daughter of Marilyn and Allan Scott. She is currently attending FE Madill SS in grade 12. Sadie is Sadie is involved in many activities including Mustangs in the Making, Me to We, Student's Council, HAWK Theatre, and also a learning service trip to Ecuador. She has been involved in the fair in the past in the Jr Ambassador Pro- gram, helping the Lucknow Co-op with the pet show and being in the parade. Sadie is sponsored by Mayfair Training. Kenzie Simpson Kenzie is the daughter of Tracey and Steve Simpson. Kenzie is 18 and will be attending Fanshawe College for General Intell Security and Urban Planning. She hopes to attain a career in land development and water testing. Kenzie enjoys sports, arts and traveling. She has played for the Lucknow Minor Hockey since she was young and has also volun- teered at Music in the Fields, the Juvenile Silverstick Tour- nament, in Kennette booths and bazaars and Vacation Bible School. Kenzie is spon- sored by McDonagh Insur- ance Brokers. Abegale Rol Abegale is thel9 year old daughter of Michelle Rol. She will be attending Fanshawe College, through the Clinton Reach for PSW. She is inter- ested in many different activ- ities such as automotive mechanics, basketball, hik- ing, computers and long - boarding. Abegale has been involved with community services, the Celtic Festival since 2012, and volunteering at her church nursery. During her co-op at Goderich Toy- ota, Abegale helped work on a smash up derby car. Abe - gale is sponsored by the Luc - know Legion, Branch 309. Sarah Alton Sarah, 18 is the daughter of George and Amy Alton. Sarah will be attending Ridgetown College for Agriculture Busi- ness. Sarah hopes to help on the family farm as she enjoys farming. Sarah has been involved in the HAWK thea- tre, the Lucknow fall fair, Sas- katchewan Howlers Ruby team, GDCI, Trinity Church, school sports and lifeguards at the Lucknow pool. She won the woman's arm wres- tling in 2011 with both arms. Sarah is sponsored by Luc - know Cut and Curl. Carley Stutzman Carley, 17, is the daughter of Sherry and Dan Stutzman. She is currently attending FE Madill SS but would like to pursue a career in nursing at the Children's Hospital in London. Carley is involved in the MADD program, cross country, soccer and hockey. Carley also helps catering, coaching her brother's soccer team and setting up the fall fair. Carley had the opportu- nity to play with an elite soc- cer team in a pre -season tournament at the BMO Center in London. Carley was a participant in the Junior Ambassador Program when she was younger and got to ride in a soap box derby car! She is sponsored by Knech- tel's Food Market. Junior Ambassadors Tyson Robinson Eleven year old Tyson is the son of Katrina Patriquin and James Robinson. Tyson is interested in dinosaurs, sharks, reptiles and Lego. He enjoys the horse shows at the fair. Tyson is a member of Scouts. He would like to be a paleontologist and a mechanic. Tyson enjoyed a trip back to Nova Scotia to visit his family this summer. Madison Ritchie Madison is the 11 year old daughter of Heather and Pat- rick Ritchie. She enjoys art, baseball, dance and reading. She enjoys having her face painted at the fair. Madison is a member of Gems. She would like to be a storm chaser, teacher or doctor. Madison enjoyed going to Ripley's Aquarium over the summer. Drayton MacKenzie Drayton is the 11 year old daughter of Misti Humphrey and Brian MacKenzie. She plays hockey and horseback rides. She enjoys dancing and gymnastics at school. Dray- ton enjoys being in the parade, the art work and par- ticipating in the games. She is a member of 4-H and the sheep show. Drayton would like to be a veterinarian. Riley Robinson Riley, 9 the daughter of Katrina Patriquin and James Robinson. She enjoys art, and gym at school. She also enjoys gymnastics, dancing and animals. Riley enjoys rid- ing on the parade floats. She is a member of Gems and Cubs. Riley would like to be a dancer or gymnast. Riley enjoyed a trip to her grand- parents cottage in Pugwash, Nova Scotia for a week this summer.