The committee continues to work on details for the All-Class Reunion – Pioneer Heroes Homecoming 2020 - slated this summer, June 19-21. Many folks are stepping up to help us do jobs and we sure appreciate that. The book is in the printing process and seems to be coming along smoothly. We even got a sneak peak as to what the logo will look like on the cover. Many local businesses purchased ads to help with the book cost and many have also pitched in cash donations for things that the registration cost doesn’t cover like the street band, parade prizes, banners, town decorations and more.
The registration letter will get dropped into the mail near mid March. For those who prefer to click away at their computer rather than grab a pen and a stamp, an online option will be available to register and pay. There are some exclusive reasons to register. You get a Homecoming Book that includes the schedule, advertising and memorials to those we will be missing at our celebration. You will have tickets to the 2 food events at the banquet hall: a baron of beef dinner on Saturday night and a street taco bar with all the fun toppings for lunch on Sunday. You also snag a ticket that gains you entrance to the high school gym on Saturday night for the “Heroes 2020 Homecoming” program. If not registering you will be on your own for meals and can only hear about what happens at the program from someone who registered and attended it. Pre-registration helps us prepare for the nitty gritty details of the increased number of people that will be in town.
We have purchased a couple signs that will act as street barriers and give you all a general welcome to Homecoming!! Dolly Weaver and Patti Hannum are busy accepting calls from vendors who have something to sell. The high school classes are planning things like steak-on-a-stick, cold drinks, baked goods, spiral potatoes, Italian sodas and a coffee stand. One will sell glow sticks and another is planning a raffle for a side of beef. There will be a DJ dance on Friday night after the High School Royalty are crowned and The Milk River Band has agreed to play for the Saturday night street dance. We have also been contacted by the extended family of a former mayor-barber looking for a house to rent in town for the weekend.
Darin and Lisa Genereux are organizing things that will happen at the school. They have decided how to set up the gym for the Saturday night program and enlisted volunteers to make the popular “Memorabilia Room” run smoothly. If you have things for that room bring them along or contact Lisa. The program will include a short presentation from the Montana High School Association to Duane Olson’s (’67) family. He has been inducted into the 2020 Athletic Hall of Fame for high school students. Darin is working to see if the school may be able to give shuttle rides by bus between the Saturday night banquet location and the program at the school. It may be possible to ride in the “Pioneer Cruiser”, so stay tuned to see if that happens! Calvin Danreuther and Jeff Herzog are hoping to get the stage on wheels so the set up and take down process can be quicker. Since cell phone coverage in Big Sandy is not superior, we are trying to come up with a solution to offer better Wi-Fi coverage. Again, stay posted.
The schedule includes times for registration, the parade, banquet meals and program. The Big Sandy Cultural Center and Library are planning some special hours. Rotary is sponsoring an Ice Cream Social on Friday and we are hoping for some local entertainment before the Royalty Crowning and street dance. On Saturday, there are plans for a Bike Ride and Color Run prior to the parade and afterwards there will be auctions at the stage, a Car Show up the street and a Cornhole Tournament at the Ophus Dome. Sunday gets rolling with a Pancake Breakfast planned by the Mason’s and then things start to wind down after the Farewell Lunch at the banquet hall.
Please contact us if you may be willing to lend a set of hands sometime during the preparation process or anytime during the weekend. Class reunions can happen on Friday. Registration runs from 1-5 Friday then activities begin downtown. Sunday afternoon is also open for reunions after the farewell meal which ends at 1. Please let us know when and where your class chooses to meet so we can help spread the information. Besides reading the friendly hometown paper, please follow us on Facebook at Big Sandy Homecoming or at our website: bigsandyhomecoming.org.
