Sixty-nine-year old Ramona Syltie is proud of being honored as queen at the senior citizen coronation - one of the events Friday at Porter’s Harvest Festival.

There was one more thing that she is proud of during the annual festival – the sense of community in Porter.

“I think it’s really wonderful. In a small town, people get together and work together,” Syltie said.

With thorough preparation made by community members, the 2000 Porter Harvest Festival drew people from surrounding towns, including Minneota, Canby and Marshall, during the weekend.

 Ardis Goslar, a life-long resident in Porter, said the festival brings back a sense of community in Porter.

“It’s nice to have this to get people out and get some doing things together,” she said.

Goslar said there was a period during which Porter did not have a festival.

“When I was growing up, we had a carnival every year. But, they don’t do that (carnival) anymore because the town is too small,” Goslar said.

Nancy Longhenry, the co-chair of the festival, said the festival has been gaining popularity – especially in some events that seem to draw more people than others.

For example, last year, 700 tickets were sold at Kid’s Games.

This year, Longhenry said, a fund-raising supper at Arlene’s Café was successful, selling many hamburgers, sweet corn, chips and hot dogs.

“It’s going over really well,” Longhenry said.

The fund-raising activity was held for the Porter Development Project – a community effort to keep the café and grocery store in town.