Letter to the Editor: Big Thanks to PrairieFest Volunteers

It is a great feeling to be this tired and this happy all at the same time.  And I would be lying if I didn’t admit to smiling in my sleep when I heard the thunder this morning.  Bring it on, PrairieFest is over!!!  I hope you had a good time at your first PrairieFest.  I thought the Patch coverage was outstanding.  I have a letter for the community concerning the outpouring of volunteer support we received.  Weeks like this one, I think I have the best job in the world.  I got to be a part of something this fun; and see it was carried on the back of the nicest people on the earth.  Ohh, and they are my neighbors.  Here you go -

A year ago I began recruiting volunteers for PrairieFest 2011.  It isn’t a difficult job in our community. 

We had over 100 youth come out to volunteer.  Some of those kids came out for more than 3 hours at a time every day. It was hot, muggy, and very busy.  Still those kids picked up dropped funnel cakes, wiped down food tables and pointed each of you to your parking spot.  Several times over the weekend I would listen to the radio chatter of kids 14-23 figuring out the best parking options.  I felt so proud that they were willing to put this kind of effort into a festival for the rest of us.  I would wonder what motivates a teenager to work this hard for so little.  I decided the answer was character.

I also had spent the weekend with 150 adults who volunteered three hours or more for the festival.  Some making helping run the festival a tradition and they have been coming back for years.  For others it was hopefully the start of a tradition.  They greeted you at the gates, poured beverages and took guests to their cars in courtesy shuttles.  They were also there Sunday to line up the parade and keep the runners on course.  It is easy to see why our town has so many youth volunteers when you realize how many adults make giving their time a part of their lives.

For four days everyone in this town was busy either attending or hosting one PrairieFest event or another.There were hundreds more volunteers out there this past weekend.  They met you at community booths, roasted corn, and raced ducks. It wouldn’t be PrairieFest without the volunteers. They were incredible ambassadors of PrairieFest.  I genuinely thank each volunteer – and staff - who worked so hard to make sure PrairieFest was indeed our community festival. 

 Kristie Blocker Vest, Special Events Coordinator, Oswegoland Park District