Before we get started, we at Rockin H Marketing what to say “Thank You” to all rodeo committee and event volunteers.
Volunteers are asked to take time out of their lives to accomplish some of the hardest, stressful and dirty tasks it takes to bring a rodeo to a town. Almost every rodeo in America depends on the thankless job of hardworking volunteers. We say thankless because rodeo committee volunteers are rarely thanked by rodeo contestants, fans, and sometimes communities for producing world class events.
But when it comes to finding those volunteers for a rodeo committee, they are sometimes hard to recruit. Being able to recognize a good rodeo volunteer in the making will help improve your rodeo committee retention rate and ensure you have committed and reliable volunteers, ultimately ensuring your rodeo can produce an outstanding show.
So what makes a good volunteer? We came up with what we think are nine qualities of a volunteer to look for when recruiting or searching for rodeo committee members.
1. Passion
Passionate people have probably got your rodeo to where it is right now. So to keep up the momentum, it’s important to find people who share your rodeo’s values, goals, traditions, and mission.
People that are passionate about your rodeo will want to share your mission with everyone they know, encouraging others to get involved and motivated put on a world class show. You may even find extra-passionate volunteers who have a personal attachment to rodeo that you have never seen. That’s why passion is the most important part of any volunteer personality.
2. Reliability
So many rodeos simply couldn’t operate without their volunteer army. For most, finding a good volunteer who is reliable and committed is the difference between achieving filling bleachers or simply having a jackpot. We suggest that every rodeo committee have a recruitment process. When you do, it’s vital to clearly define the time commitment you expect and ensure volunteers have the available time. It’s best to know this at the beginning instead of finding out right before the first performance.
3. Teamwork
Let’s just be honest. Some people just do not click with others. Teamwork is one of the key qualities that makes a good volunteer. The best volunteers are comfortable working in stressful, and ever-changing scenarios. They must be able to take on both the leader and the follower role at different times.
In some cases, it’s best to have a social event before the duties of volunteers are handed out. This is when you begin to find out who is really on the team, and who would rather watch the rodeo from the bleachers.
4. Patience
We haven’t seen a rodeo yet that isn’t juggling a hundred things at once, so sometimes not everything moves as quickly as expected. So it’s important to find volunteers who are willing to be patient, stick it out, and never stop persisting. Patience is also important for volunteers who will be interacting with fans, contestants (you know who they are) and especially demanding sponsors.
5. Creativity
Rodeo Committees that are creative have learned how to adapt to an every changing world. Recruiting volunteers who are open-minded and creative will bring fresh ideas and solutions to challenges. When trying to figure out problems, a creative volunteer can sometimes see things that older volunteers have been missing for years. Ok, we’ll just say it. Don’t recruit a closed-minded individual and expect something new from them. There…. We said it.
6. Energetic
Being a rodeo committee volunteer is flat out physically and mentally exhausting, so make sure your committee is full of energetic and enthusiastic volunteers. There are more physically demanding jobs than others at a rodeo, but when recruiting volunteers, find the ones that are willing to work. The work load on five people is way easier than the work load on one person.
7. Positive attitude
We’ve all seen the “bad attitude” volunteer. But sometimes it’s understandable for the older members. But new rodeo volunteers are often pushed out of their comfort zone as they learn a whole new side of rodeo. They may also have never had to untie calves in the mud. Find the ones who are able to stay positive and remain focused on the task at hand. A positive volunteer personality will spread throughout the committee. A negative attitude spreads even faster.
8. Willingness to help
Finding volunteers who are willing to help out, regardless of the task, will make your rodeo run so smooth. A willingness to change tasks at the last minute, show a new volunteer how to work a chute, or stay after the show to help clean up are priceless qualities that really make a good volunteer. But, it’s also a tricky quality to recruit for. Keep an eye out for volunteers who respond promptly to those group texts, or stay a little later after the meeting to stack chairs. That’s your guy…. or girl.
9. Organized
Volunteers who are organized and on time will save you a lot of headaches and time down the track. This is one of the hardest qualities to requite sometimes because of personal schedules. But, volunteers who arrive for meetings on time is a big indication of how organized they really are.
We know there are more qualities that make up a great volunteer. But rodeo committee members must understand that even though this is a unpaid commitment, the rodeo depends on people that take their job seriously. It’s not a bad idea to remind rodeo committee that some of the best qualities needed to be recruited is also the same qualities needed by all members.
If you need help with your rodeo committee, contact Rockin H Marketing. We don’t just advertise rodeo, we help build them from inside the committee to inside the rodeo arena.
