Volunteer army handles agriculture invasion

When Dave McNichols was asked to oversee more than 400 volunteers, tasked with feeding up to 20,000 people daily for three days, there was no hesitation on his part.

For six years, McNichols oversaw three volunteer-operated concession stands for the Shiocton High School Booster Club, which sold food at every Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field. To him the projected daily attendance this week at Wisconsin Farm Technology Days just outside New London, was a manageable crowd to feed.

“When they opened the gates at Lambeau and you’re faced with close to 70,000 fans and they asked if I would take this on, I didn’t even bat an eye, ‘bring ‘em on,’” McNichols said.

McNichols was among an estimated 1,500 volunteers at the annual state farm show, which showcased the latest agricultural technology, daily life on an active farm and other assorted events. The show, which ran Tuesday through Thursday, changes venues annually and this year marked its return to Outagmie County after 31 years. It was held at Sugar Creek Farm and Heideman Farms.

Volunteers handled a variety of jobs from directing parking, preparing and serving food to clean up after the event.

Kevin Jarek, a representative with UW-Extension and executive secretary of the farm show organizing committee, said three years of preparation paid off. When organizers learned Outagamie County was awarded the show in April 2009, after submitting a bid in 2008, planning began immediately.

“I think everyone has done a great job working to get everything ready,” Jarek said. “We (had) a great event to showcase here in Outagamie County.”

Jarek said one of the first tasks was ensuring there would be enough volunteers to work during the event. Mailers went out to people and organizations tied to the agriculture and farming industries.

Jarek expected the event to have between 500 and 700 volunteers on site daily.

McNichols, who grew up on a farm and today lives outside New London, was asked to chair the event’s food committee when the person who had the job stepped down.

The estimated 400 people preparing and serving food represents the biggest segment of volunteers at the event, Jarek said. One of the food tents alone had as many as 90 volunteers.

McNichols said since there was time to plan, most of the logistics were handled ahead of time. The biggest challenges came in recent days.

Other major regional events, including the recent Rock USA and Lifest, as well as the upcoming AirVenture show, all in Oshkosh, also needed equipment, including refrigeration for food.

“We were scrambling to find cooler trailers to keep meats and beverages cold,” McNichols said.

Another challenge was effectively communicating with the large group of volunteers to ensure work that needed to be done was and nothing was being duplicated, he said.

Overall, the experience was enjoyable, McNichols said. New friendships were established during the three-year planning process.

“Working with everyone on the executive committee and my committee ... They’re all wonderful people,” he said. “We got through a lot of stuff and always had smiles on our faces in the end.”

— Larry Avila: 920-993-1000, ext. 292, or lavila@postcrescent.com; on Twitter @LarryAvila

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