Local 4-H chapter learns skills while serving concessions at the Hamel Rodeo
While rodeo fans are enjoying popcorn and nachos at the Hamel Rodeo, youth are learning lifetime skills.
For the past twenty-plus years, Cloverpatch 4-H Club has worked the popcorn, nacho and candy concession booths at the Hamel Rodeo.
The youth, who are mostly elementary and middle-school-aged kids, sell the food items, serve customers, make change, and learn real-life skills.
Nathan and Heather Maehrn’s three daughters, ages 12, 9 and six, have helped at the Hamel Rodeo for the past four years.
Each Cloverpatch 4-H family is required to work two rodeo performances a year. Kids outnumber adults, but the adults are there to help with making popcorn and nachos, checking math when needed, and should an emergency arise.
The Maehrns say it teaches their kids good skills.
“They are greeting guests, getting them their food, counting money, and telling them to enjoy the show,” Nathan said.
Customer service is another key part of the 4-H members’ learning, he said, along with being professional and polite, and handling money.
Making the booth presentable is another task, he said, “keeping the area and the stand clean and organized, and they learn how to work with others. They gain a lot of confidence working at the Hamel Rodeo.”
The Cloverpatch 4-H Club uses the proceeds for educational activities, service projects, and scholarships for members to attend a camp or activity.
It’s not all fun and games, however. In addition to food sales, the Cloverpatch Club does the trash pickup after four of the five shows.
It’s a dirty, smelly job but the kids learn from that, too, the Maehrns say.
“The kids pick up cans and garbage,” Nathan said. “They realize, ‘When I have trash, I should put it in a receptacle, so somebody else doesn’t have to pick it up.’ They’re learning responsibility and to be good patrons.”
Each volunteer works the entirety of a rodeo show, from beginning to end. Sometimes it’s hot and the hours can get long.
But developing stamina is also useful, Heather said.
“In this day and age where people are comfortable, you have to tough it out when you’re working a six-hour shift on your feet when it’s hot and dirty. We are working, whether we’re excited about it or not, and we’re doing it together.”
The kids enjoy the experience and often ask to work more than their allotted shifts.
“They love interacting with patrons,” Nathan said.
They enjoy the entire experience at the Hamel Rodeo.
“It’s been a great experience for us,” Heather said. “We’re very grateful for being there. It’s a really special thing for the kids, a memorable thing, and it’s a highlight of our summer. We get as much (out of it) as we’re giving.”
The Hamel Rodeo takes place at Corcoran Lions Park and runs July 9-12 with nightly performances at 7:30 pm and a 1 pm matinee on July 11.
Tickets for the evening shows are $28. All seats are general admission. Tickets for the July 12 matinee are $20. They can be purchased online at HamelRodeo.org (no tickets will be sold at the gate.)
For more information, visit the website or call 763.478.6611.
