By EMILY SCHENDEL
What will the future of Fennimore Fun Fest look like? That is the question that has been posed to the community as the chairman for Fun Fest, Jeff Hagen has announced that he is stepping down from the position. Without an official chair or set of co-chairs, Fun Fest will not be able to continue for the 2020 year.
Fun Fest is a continuation of the previously named Ag Days which had deep roots in the community.
Hagen has been chairing the Fun Fest for several years, but has always had some involvement in the community event.
“Back when it was Ag Days, I was involved with it and when it turned to Fun Fest, I put on the ATV Mud Drags for about 13 years,” Hagen recalled. “I’ve been involved in one way or another (with Fun Fest and Ag Days) for at least 25 years. I took over as Chairman about 10 years ago. I’ve loved doing it, as long as it’s benefitting the city, I’m all for it. What led me to taking it over was being involved with it for the 13 years, Jon Miles, the chairman then was stepping down. I wanted to keep it going.”
In the early days, when Hagen took over the event, he co-chaired the event with Lori Barry. When she stepped down Hagen again didn’t want to see the event go away so he continued as the sole chairperson.
Hagen, who also serves as an Alder for Fennimore as well as managing Collision Specialists cites a need for a little more personal time as a major part of the reason he is stepping down.
“I just need more time for me to enjoy other activities,” Hagen said. “I’m hoping someone in the younger generation wants to take it over. That’s what the community needs, it needs more young people to step up and volunteer. It doesn’t even need to be for Fun Fest. There are many clubs or organizations in the community that need help. Fennimore is a great community, and I hope that it (Fun Fest) continues. It fits the community, it is for kids, families, for every body. It brings lots of people into town.”
One of the struggles with Fun Fest potentially disappearing,even for one year is the difficulty of starting up again.
“Anytime you lose a big event or organization like this, it’s so hard to bring it back,” Hagen said. “You lose your volunteers, and just the community itself, everything that goes with it. It’s very hard to start back up again.”
Hagen is quick to point out however, that although he is the chairman, he does not do the job alone.
“As the chairman my job is organizing the whole event, which is contacting all the contacts, getting everything set up, contracts signed, getting permits from the city, but a lot of it boils down to having your core committee,” Hagen shared. “Having a committee and committee meetings. Designating a head person for each sub committee. Someone in charge of various things who would relay back to me and the committee what was going on. I’ve had a pretty good core committee of people to help with all of that. It’s a big matter of making sure everything runs smoothly and having the committee built up has helped with that tremendously.”
Hagen noted that another major aspect of the position is flexibility. Being able to answer questions or handle things during the day. A point that he feels may be helped with having two cochairs along with the committee take the position rather than one solitary chairperson. “It would ease things up,” Hagen said.
In addition to just the fun times of Fun Fest and sense of community, losing this annual event could also directly affect the various local clubs and organizations who sold concessions at Fun Fest, participated in the parade or the community auction.
“That would be something I’d hate to see go away,” Hagen said. “There have been many organizations that have made money and benefited directly from the concession stands. The parade would be another huge loss, that was a big benefit for the community because everyone was able to be out there and advertise themselves. The community auction also happened during Fun Fest and that benefitted them.”
Time is of the essence for the event as Hagen notes.
“You have to start booking things fairly early in the year. Many organizations like to get their calendars worked out well in advance.”
Hagen hopes to see Fun Fest continue to grow and turn into something bigger and better for the community to enjoy. But, this will only be possible if someone or a few people step up to chair the event.
For those who may be interested or would like more information about being a part of the Fennimore Fun Fest and its future, you can contact Jeff Hagen at 822-5237 or email Fennimorefunfest@hotmail.com or any Fun Fest committee members.
Fun Fest is a continuation of the previously named Ag Days which had deep roots in the community.
Hagen has been chairing the Fun Fest for several years, but has always had some involvement in the community event.
“Back when it was Ag Days, I was involved with it and when it turned to Fun Fest, I put on the ATV Mud Drags for about 13 years,” Hagen recalled. “I’ve been involved in one way or another (with Fun Fest and Ag Days) for at least 25 years. I took over as Chairman about 10 years ago. I’ve loved doing it, as long as it’s benefitting the city, I’m all for it. What led me to taking it over was being involved with it for the 13 years, Jon Miles, the chairman then was stepping down. I wanted to keep it going.”
In the early days, when Hagen took over the event, he co-chaired the event with Lori Barry. When she stepped down Hagen again didn’t want to see the event go away so he continued as the sole chairperson.
Hagen, who also serves as an Alder for Fennimore as well as managing Collision Specialists cites a need for a little more personal time as a major part of the reason he is stepping down.
“I just need more time for me to enjoy other activities,” Hagen said. “I’m hoping someone in the younger generation wants to take it over. That’s what the community needs, it needs more young people to step up and volunteer. It doesn’t even need to be for Fun Fest. There are many clubs or organizations in the community that need help. Fennimore is a great community, and I hope that it (Fun Fest) continues. It fits the community, it is for kids, families, for every body. It brings lots of people into town.”
One of the struggles with Fun Fest potentially disappearing,even for one year is the difficulty of starting up again.
“Anytime you lose a big event or organization like this, it’s so hard to bring it back,” Hagen said. “You lose your volunteers, and just the community itself, everything that goes with it. It’s very hard to start back up again.”
Hagen is quick to point out however, that although he is the chairman, he does not do the job alone.
“As the chairman my job is organizing the whole event, which is contacting all the contacts, getting everything set up, contracts signed, getting permits from the city, but a lot of it boils down to having your core committee,” Hagen shared. “Having a committee and committee meetings. Designating a head person for each sub committee. Someone in charge of various things who would relay back to me and the committee what was going on. I’ve had a pretty good core committee of people to help with all of that. It’s a big matter of making sure everything runs smoothly and having the committee built up has helped with that tremendously.”
Hagen noted that another major aspect of the position is flexibility. Being able to answer questions or handle things during the day. A point that he feels may be helped with having two cochairs along with the committee take the position rather than one solitary chairperson. “It would ease things up,” Hagen said.
In addition to just the fun times of Fun Fest and sense of community, losing this annual event could also directly affect the various local clubs and organizations who sold concessions at Fun Fest, participated in the parade or the community auction.
“That would be something I’d hate to see go away,” Hagen said. “There have been many organizations that have made money and benefited directly from the concession stands. The parade would be another huge loss, that was a big benefit for the community because everyone was able to be out there and advertise themselves. The community auction also happened during Fun Fest and that benefitted them.”
Time is of the essence for the event as Hagen notes.
“You have to start booking things fairly early in the year. Many organizations like to get their calendars worked out well in advance.”
Hagen hopes to see Fun Fest continue to grow and turn into something bigger and better for the community to enjoy. But, this will only be possible if someone or a few people step up to chair the event.
For those who may be interested or would like more information about being a part of the Fennimore Fun Fest and its future, you can contact Jeff Hagen at 822-5237 or email Fennimorefunfest@hotmail.com or any Fun Fest committee members.
What will the future of Fennimore Fun Fest look like? That is the question that has been posed to the community as the chairman for Fun Fest, Jeff Hagen has announced that he is stepping down from the position. Without an official chair or set of co-chairs, Fun Fest will not be able to continue for the 2020 year.
Fun Fest is a continuation of the previously named Ag Days which had deep roots in the community.
Hagen has been chairing the Fun Fest for several years, but has always had some involvement in the community event.
“Back when it was Ag Days, I was involved with it and when it turned to Fun Fest, I put on the ATV Mud Drags for about 13 years,” Hagen recalled. “I’ve been involved in one way or another (with Fun Fest and Ag Days) for at least 25 years. I took over as Chairman about 10 years ago. I’ve loved doing it, as long as it’s benefitting the city, I’m all for it. What led me to taking it over was being involved with it for the 13 years, Jon Miles, the chairman then was stepping down. I wanted to keep it going.”
In the early days, when Hagen took over the event, he co-chaired the event with Lori Barry. When she stepped down Hagen again didn’t want to see the event go away so he continued as the sole chairperson.
Hagen, who also serves as an Alder for Fennimore as well as managing Collision Specialists cites a need for a little more personal time as a major part of the reason he is stepping down.
“I just need more time for me to enjoy other activities,” Hagen said. “I’m hoping someone in the younger generation wants to take it over. That’s what the community needs, it needs more young people to step up and volunteer. It doesn’t even need to be for Fun Fest. There are many clubs or organizations in the community that need help. Fennimore is a great community, and I hope that it (Fun Fest) continues. It fits the community, it is for kids, families, for every body. It brings lots of people into town.”
One of the struggles with Fun Fest potentially disappearing,even for one year is the difficulty of starting up again.
“Anytime you lose a big event or organization like this, it’s so hard to bring it back,” Hagen said. “You lose your volunteers, and just the community itself, everything that goes with it. It’s very hard to start back up again.”
Hagen is quick to point out however, that although he is the chairman, he does not do the job alone.
“As the chairman my job is organizing the whole event, which is contacting all the contacts, getting everything set up, contracts signed, getting permits from the city, but a lot of it boils down to having your core committee,” Hagen shared. “Having a committee and committee meetings. Designating a head person for each sub committee. Someone in charge of various things who would relay back to me and the committee what was going on. I’ve had a pretty good core committee of people to help with all of that. It’s a big matter of making sure everything runs smoothly and having the committee built up has helped with that tremendously.”
Hagen noted that another major aspect of the position is flexibility. Being able to answer questions or handle things during the day. A point that he feels may be helped with having two cochairs along with the committee take the position rather than one solitary chairperson. “It would ease things up,” Hagen said.
In addition to just the fun times of Fun Fest and sense of community, losing this annual event could also directly affect the various local clubs and organizations who sold concessions at Fun Fest, participated in the parade or the community auction.
“That would be something I’d hate to see go away,” Hagen said. “There have been many organizations that have made money and benefited directly from the concession stands. The parade would be another huge loss, that was a big benefit for the community because everyone was able to be out there and advertise themselves. The community auction also happened during Fun Fest and that benefitted them.”
Time is of the essence for the event as Hagen notes.
“You have to start booking things fairly early in the year. Many organizations like to get their calendars worked out well in advance.”
Hagen hopes to see Fun Fest continue to grow and turn into something bigger and better for the community to enjoy. But, this will only be possible if someone or a few people step up to chair the event.
For those who may be interested or would like more information about being a part of the Fennimore Fun Fest and its future, you can contact Jeff Hagen at 822-5237 or email Fennimorefunfest@hotmail.com or any Fun Fest committee members.
Fun Fest is a continuation of the previously named Ag Days which had deep roots in the community.
Hagen has been chairing the Fun Fest for several years, but has always had some involvement in the community event.
“Back when it was Ag Days, I was involved with it and when it turned to Fun Fest, I put on the ATV Mud Drags for about 13 years,” Hagen recalled. “I’ve been involved in one way or another (with Fun Fest and Ag Days) for at least 25 years. I took over as Chairman about 10 years ago. I’ve loved doing it, as long as it’s benefitting the city, I’m all for it. What led me to taking it over was being involved with it for the 13 years, Jon Miles, the chairman then was stepping down. I wanted to keep it going.”
In the early days, when Hagen took over the event, he co-chaired the event with Lori Barry. When she stepped down Hagen again didn’t want to see the event go away so he continued as the sole chairperson.
Hagen, who also serves as an Alder for Fennimore as well as managing Collision Specialists cites a need for a little more personal time as a major part of the reason he is stepping down.
“I just need more time for me to enjoy other activities,” Hagen said. “I’m hoping someone in the younger generation wants to take it over. That’s what the community needs, it needs more young people to step up and volunteer. It doesn’t even need to be for Fun Fest. There are many clubs or organizations in the community that need help. Fennimore is a great community, and I hope that it (Fun Fest) continues. It fits the community, it is for kids, families, for every body. It brings lots of people into town.”
One of the struggles with Fun Fest potentially disappearing,even for one year is the difficulty of starting up again.
“Anytime you lose a big event or organization like this, it’s so hard to bring it back,” Hagen said. “You lose your volunteers, and just the community itself, everything that goes with it. It’s very hard to start back up again.”
Hagen is quick to point out however, that although he is the chairman, he does not do the job alone.
“As the chairman my job is organizing the whole event, which is contacting all the contacts, getting everything set up, contracts signed, getting permits from the city, but a lot of it boils down to having your core committee,” Hagen shared. “Having a committee and committee meetings. Designating a head person for each sub committee. Someone in charge of various things who would relay back to me and the committee what was going on. I’ve had a pretty good core committee of people to help with all of that. It’s a big matter of making sure everything runs smoothly and having the committee built up has helped with that tremendously.”
Hagen noted that another major aspect of the position is flexibility. Being able to answer questions or handle things during the day. A point that he feels may be helped with having two cochairs along with the committee take the position rather than one solitary chairperson. “It would ease things up,” Hagen said.
In addition to just the fun times of Fun Fest and sense of community, losing this annual event could also directly affect the various local clubs and organizations who sold concessions at Fun Fest, participated in the parade or the community auction.
“That would be something I’d hate to see go away,” Hagen said. “There have been many organizations that have made money and benefited directly from the concession stands. The parade would be another huge loss, that was a big benefit for the community because everyone was able to be out there and advertise themselves. The community auction also happened during Fun Fest and that benefitted them.”
Time is of the essence for the event as Hagen notes.
“You have to start booking things fairly early in the year. Many organizations like to get their calendars worked out well in advance.”
Hagen hopes to see Fun Fest continue to grow and turn into something bigger and better for the community to enjoy. But, this will only be possible if someone or a few people step up to chair the event.
For those who may be interested or would like more information about being a part of the Fennimore Fun Fest and its future, you can contact Jeff Hagen at 822-5237 or email Fennimorefunfest@hotmail.com or any Fun Fest committee members.
