07/03/2026
Happy Canada Day & 4th of July Season Curlers!
As most of you know by now, Team Ford, is prepping to move from Vermillion to my hometown of Lethbridge, Alberta. With our nations celebrating their birthdays, it feels like the right time to say thank you to a community that has meant so much to us.
Our curling journey in South Dakota began in 2011 with a handful of junior curling stones packed into the back of Mike’s Prius as we traveled from one outdoor rink to another, introducing people to a sport we loved and hoping to spark enough interest for something bigger. We never imagined where those little demonstrations would lead.
From those humble beginnings grew an incredible curling community. We were privileged to watch the Sioux Falls Curling flourish, and later become part of the continued growth and success of the Yankton Curling Club. To have witnessed, and played even a small role in that journey, has been one of the greatest privileges of our time in South Dakota.
Curling has given our family so much more than a game. It has introduced us to lifelong friends, unforgettable memories, and communities that welcomed us with open arms. We watched strangers become teammates, volunteers become leaders, and clubs thrive because people believed in creating something together.
Serving alongside so many dedicated volunteers has been an honour. Non-profit organizations only succeed because people generously give their time, talents, and hearts. Whether you taught someone to throw their first rock, scraped ice, organized events, volunteered behind the scenes, served on the board, or simply came out to curl... YOU helped build something special.
As many of you know, Mike and I recently stepped down from the Yankton Curling Club Board to prepare for this next chapter. It was a bittersweet decision, but one made with confidence, knowing the club is in the hands of passionate volunteers who care deeply about its future.
While we are excited for our next adventure in Alberta, leaving these curling communities is incredibly difficult. They have shaped our lives in ways we will always treasure.
Thank you for every game, every volunteer shift, every bonspiel, every laugh in the warm room, every conversation, every new curler you welcomed, and every friendship we’ve made along the way.
This isn’t goodbye... it’s simply “see you down the sheet.”
Good Curling (eh?/ya'll),
Team Ford
(Julianna, Mike, Jaxon & Zahra)❤️🥌
