Volunteers are the backbone of community events
Dick Wesle is a hard man to keep up with during Fair time in Taylor County.
You might see the 76-year-old retired dairy farmer in passing, moving from one project to another from early morning to late at night getting tables and chairs moved and set up on the event stage to helping fix something that broke in the barn, to patrolling the grounds to make sure garbage cans are emptied and buildings are locked up each night.
About the only place you won’t see Wesle is sitting down or, for that matter, standing in one place for very long. If you can keep up with him, he will share stories of decades of fairs from when his own children were filling their demo derby car tires with fermented oats, to his grandchildren’s fair success.
Wesle is one of a small army of dedicated volunteers who make the Taylor County Fair happen each year. He, like most of those who work behind the scenes to make events happen, would be uncomfortable in the spotlight and would point out others who put in just as much or more effort into making events like the Taylor County Fair happen.
Wisconsin residents and communities make the most of the short summer season with a sprint of activities going on every weekend. Last weekend was an especially busy one in Taylor County, even by summer weekend standards, with the Taylor County Fair, RUMBLEFEST Car Show and Lublin Days all taking place over the weekend. Any of these would be headlining events on their own, drawing people to the area and boosting the regional economy in the process. In addition to these major events, there were other smaller ones going on throughout the area. There was truly something for everyone taking place last weekend.
A common unifying element at all the events was the dedication of the volunteers who donate their time to make them happen. Without volunteers there would be no fair, there would be no car shows, there would be no parades or community chicken barbecue dinners.
Without the volunteers putting in long hours before, during and after events they wouldn’t happen. Beyond those working the event itself, there are untold hours of work put into organizing, planning and even just doing the mountain of permits and paperwork that goes along with running a successful event.
Next time you attend a community event, be sure to thank the volunteers like Dick Wesle and the dozens of others like him who donate their time to make events successful.
Before you complain about something not having gone right or go on a social media rant about how an event “should” have done something, ask yourself if you are willing to roll up your sleeves and pitch in to help.
Everyone’s lives are busy. We all have things going on and places we need or want to be. Event volunteers choose to make service a priority and we all are grateful for their hard work and dedication.
Well done to all the organizers and volunteers at events held over this past weekend and throughout the summer. Your work and effort are greatly appreciated.
