Adrienne Snow has been selected as the new Director of the Fallon Cantaloupe Festival and County Fair, which is scheduled this year from Friday, August 26 through Sunday, August 28. “They brought me on during the board's last meeting, and I officially started 48 hours ago.” That was Monday, January 24 when Snow jumped right into the new position, not being anonymous any longer.
Snow is a fourth-generation Nevadan who grew up in Carson City. She and her family moved to Fallon about 11 years ago and have attended most festivals since then. She also had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem for the talent portion of the festival one year, and her mom Becky Pleasants volunteers for the Hearts of Gold quilts portion of the festival.
“I think the reason the position excites me is the Cantaloupe Festival team has some really big ideas and plans that they want to begin working on, and we are incorporating the new facility in those plans. There's so much that can be done to really grow the festival because of that new facility.” Snow went on to say, “I am hoping to bring a bit of my entrepreneurial and marketing background to the team. My husband and I have other businesses in town, and my experience with those will lend itself to my new position.”
The festival director position is full-time and will add to her day that includes her partnership with Joe Frey in Western States Hemp, and her helping with the business side of her husband Justin's livestock and trucking company. Snow is also finishing her last class that will complete her master’s in business administration degree, so to say she is and will be busy would be an understatement. “I'm finishing my MBA now at night and on weekends, and the timing of finishing that works out just right.”
There are three boys in the Snow family too, ages 9, 11, and 14. “They help with everything, and they were really excited when they found out I would be helping with the Cantaloupe Festival. I've already told them they would have some assignments there, and they can't wait.”
The festival is orchestrated by the Fallon Festival Association Board of Directors composed of Chairman Zip Upham, Vice-Chair Sue Frey, Secretary Kim Klenakis, and Directors Rick Lattin and Todd Moretto. During the winter months, the board meets once per month, then from April through the end of May, the board will meet every two weeks. From June through the end of August, they will meet every week or more often as needed, until the festival concludes and they start planning for the next one. Last year, they also organized the first Cantaloupe Canter 5k that benefited the Fallon Theatre which was held on the Saturday morning of the festival weekend.
Snow explained a bit about how the festival is organized. “Each director oversees a section of the festival, coordinating volunteers and other activities in their section. For example, Zip Upham is responsible for the grounds layouts and security. Rick Lattin, who has been involved with the festival since its inception, oversees all produce and farmers market needs. Sue Frey coordinates the Exhibition Hall competitions. All of the board members contribute. The festival really is a team effort, and it couldn't be done without their help.”
This year, the team is also working on reaching out to neighboring communities to attract them to Fallon and Churchill County. “We're looking at ways to inspire residents of Reno, Carson, and Lake Tahoe to come and visit us here. There's so much here to see and enjoy.”
For her own part, Snow said, “I am hoping that my background is a good fit and that I can bring that to the table to help them. I'm just aiming to be the hub of what they already do to make their jobs easier. Sometimes I think of all the things to do and think I might overwhelm myself. But because there is so much to do, and so many opportunities, I just want to help with all of them.”
More information about the Cantaloupe Festival and County Fair, along with the countdown clock to the start of this year's festival, can be found on the festival's website https://www.falloncantaloupefestival.com/
Comment
Comments