Farm and City Days volunteer shortage raises concerns

As anticipation builds for this year's Farm & City Days celebration, our organizing committee is facing a growing concern that could impact the success of the community tradition: a critical shortage of volunteers.

 

The Farm & City Days committee is officially made up of six members and, unfortunately, only three members will be available during this year's celebration weekend. The limited number of "hands-on-deck" presents a serious challenge and a real possibility of some events being scaled back, or not happening at all.

 

Farm & City Days has long been a highlight for the community, offering activities, entertainment, and opportunities for residents to come together and celebrate. Behind the scenes, however, the work required to make it all happen is extensive. We take on everything-from organizing activities and securing entertainment to advertising, fundraising, coordinating logistics, and preparing expenses. During the event itself, we are responsible for both setup and teardown of activities, as well as supervising them to ensure they run safely and successfully.

 

The lack of volunteers has already begun to limit what our committee can offer. In recent years, efforts have been made to introduce new and exciting activities to enhance the weekend experience. However, without enough people to help oversee these additions, expansion has become increasingly difficult. We are stuck working within what we can realistically manage with such a small group.

 

So, we are urging the community to consider volunteering a few hours of their time to help preserve and strengthen this cherished tradition. Whether assisting with setup, or monitoring activities, a little help goes a long way; every contribution will make a difference.

 

The success of Farm & City Days depends not just on a dedicated few, but on the collective support of the entire community. To sign up for your volunteer time, please reach out via call or text to Brandy Jacobson at 507.475.0378. Thank you!

 

Volunteer Opportunities for Saturday, July 18:

- Kid Pedal Pull Registration: 10 a.m. 1 hour (3 people needed)

- Kid Zone Setup: 9 a.m. 1 hour (2 people needed)

- Kid Zone: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 1 or 2 hour shifts (10 people needed)

- Street Dance Reg Table: 7:30 p.m. 1 or 2 hour shifts (2 people needed)