CRAVEN – A 26-year-old Saskatchewan woman is the one-millionth person to scan through the gates of the Country Thunder music festival in Craven to mark the festival’s continued success and popularity.

“I was basically speechless, it didn’t seem real,” said Darby Klassen, the winner of the lifetime Country Thunder prize package.

“I thought it was a scam. I never win anything, so I honestly thought it was a scam. I got a phone call from a number I didn’t recognize and hit decline and then I had a voicemail and then a text,” said Klassen.

It wasn’t until a camera crew and Country Thunder management went to their family’s campsite that she started to believe the good news.

“I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity and experience,” said Klassen.  

On stage, just before the Sunday night concert, Klassen was presented with a guitar autographed by the 2024 artists, a pair of front-row platinum experience seat tickers for life, and access to the artists’ lounge. The prize package includes $20,000 worth of merchandise from Country Thunder’s sponsor. The tickets allow her to attend any Country Thunder festival in North America.

“This is a huge milestone for Country Thunder, and we are so excited to welcome our One Millionth Fan to Saskatchewan this summer. We’ve built an incredible community of music lovers and concertgoers,” Country Thunder Music Festivals CEO Troy Vollhoffer said in a news release.

Klassen is an avid country music fan and a new mom to a 10-month old baby. She works for a digital ag company, and runs an online country clothing and accessories store called 13 Spades.

She says she first came to Craven about 10 years ago with her parents and best friend’s parents. This is her fourth time attending the festival with her longtime friend, parents, and extended family.

Klassen lives near Rush Lake, about 227 km drive from the festival site.