serving up a tradition

Forty years. Thousands of sloppy joes. Countless laughs. For one group of friends, working the concession stand at Clearwater's Big rodeo has become as much a tradition as the rodeo itself.

When the group first started working at the concession stand at Saturday night's rodeo, there were seven close friends, who are considered the original members, said DeeAnn Sanne, a community volunteer.

Two friends stopped working the stand, so now there are only five original members, plus many other volunteers, said Sanne.

In 1986, the seven close friends' husbands worked the gates at the rodeo, so the wives decided they would get together and work the stand, said Sanne.

The group's husbands now work alongside them.

"Now our husbands know how hard we work," said Teresa Kester, a community volunteer.

"I don't think they believed us," said Sanne.

Teamwork has helped the group efficiently run the stand every year.

Everyone in the stand has a specific job that they do to not get in each other's way. One person may be responsible for the nachos while others may work the window, according to Sanne.

One group member may also take over for another if they feel that they need a break, said Kester.

It can be hard to estimate how many people they will have to serve over the course of the evening. Kester explained last year's working experience as nothing but wrapping hot dogs for five hours straight.

"We are exhausted when we are done, but we have a good time," she said.

There are many reasons why the group enjoys working at the stand. Working concessions gives the group time to get together, even though there is not much time to visit, said Sanne.

The group also enjoys working the stand because they get to meet a lot of people from Clearwater and the surrounding towns.

Kester also said that several people come home for the rodeo, specifically planning vacations around it, and it is often the only time that the group gets to see some of them.

The group believes that volunteering at the concession stand is important to the community because if there were no volunteers, then the community would have to hire people to work the stand, and it wouldn't be profitable to the community.

"It is amazing that a small town of 400 people can make an event like this happen without getting paid," said Kester. "It's all a volunteer thing, and not a lot of people want to give up their time."

"I am just proud of the community for being able to do it all," said Sanne.

The group has also made several great memories working at the stand together. Kester said that the group has a good time and is often in the stand laughing.

Another group member and community volunteer, Sandy Kester, said some of her favorite memories involve children who approach the stand with only a few dollars, hoping to buy a snack.

If they come up short, volunteers tell them they have enough anyway, she said. Watching the children run off proudly with their food is one of the most heartwarming feelings.

Over the last several years, the group has faced several challenges getting volunteers to help them run the stand.

Several people in the community cannot volunteer because they have other commitments, such as ball games, family, or babysitting, said Teresa Kester.

She also said that a lot of people may not be able to volunteer because it is hard work and they just can't physically do it anymore.

The group is always looking for volunteers to help run the stand and hopes that people know they do not need to be asked to help; anybody who wants to is always free to join in, said Teresa Kester.

Despite these challenges, four decades later, the group remains committed to working the concession stand at Clearwater's Big rodeo annually and has not discussed stepping away, said Sanne.

She said that the five friends anticipate that they will work the stand next year for Clearwater's 60th Big rodeo, but are now taking it year by year.

The friends plan to continue volunteering as long as they are able, said Teresa Kester.

"I think we are just happy that we can help to make this event happen," she said. "This is one way that we can contribute."

"I feel a loyalty to it," said Sanne.