The Hennessey United Association board discussed a number of upcoming plans and events during its Aug. 4 meeting at the Wellness Mercantile.

President Stacy Cline said the Roundup Club was working on its fall open rodeo scheduled Friday and Saturday, Aug. 19-20.

Cline said they expect a big crowd again this year.

The rodeo will again have a calf scramble for kids under 12 and a greased pig contest.

If a kid catches a greased pig, then it’s theirs and the club pays for it, she said, and the winner in the calf scramble gets cash.

There is no admission for children 5 and under, but it’s $5 for ages 6-12 and $10 for others.

“The rodeo is always the third week in August,” Cline said. “Everyone knows that.”

Festival always first Saturday in October

Her comment led into a discussion about setting a date for the group’s annual Wine & Chocolate Festival.

This year’s date is Saturday, Oct. 1, and the board voted to hold all future festivals the first Saturday in October.

“It’s starting to get cool by then,” said Dagan Hardin, “and it wouldn’t be during fall break which is a problem for some.”

After his suggestion and discussion, the board voted to hold the event every first Saturday in October.

In the absence of Wes Hardin, chairman of the festival, the board members continued to discuss what they could without him being there.

Dagan Hardin said he’d handle the set-up and cleanup, but would need help, as usual. He said he’d check with Wes on the number of wine glasses on hand, as well as other questions about having enough canopies.

Admission will continue to be $20 for wine and chocolate and that includes a wine glass. Advance tickets are available at Town Hall and Vernost Wine Co. and the cost is the same as at the gate.

Cathy Howard, board secretary, said there will be three registration booths to help with waiting in lines and plans were being made to again accept credit cards at the gate.

Scott Hajek was in charge of shuttles to and from parking areas, but said he didn’t have many takers last year. Free shuttles will be available this year again.

Fire Chief Bert Gritz said the firefighters will continue to sell steak sandwiches again this year as a fundraiser and appreciates the board’s continued work with them.

Guest Angie Bruner, All About Hennessey, said she’d again handle all of the advertising for the festival.

What can United do for the town?

Board members discussed what they could do to help the town and its businesses.

Gritz suggested that sponsoring help with painting and fixing up businesses would help.

Barb Walter said when United was first started in 2000 that the group gave grants to businesses to make repairs. She recalled three had applied and all were awarded funds.

That discussion will continue next month.

Leadership Hennessey for HHS seniors

Walter said this year’s Leadership class is scheduled to start Wednesday, Aug. 24, but she was having trouble getting speakers scheduled for that date.

She also said school officials want this year’s class to be held at the high school in Marie Parrish’s classroom, instead of the Seminar Room in the school auditorium as it has in the past.

It will also be held after lunch during fifth hour (12:19 p.m.-1:10 p.m.) this year instead of fourth hour due to changes in school scheduling, she said.

There are only 20 students in this year’s senior civics class, she said, and was told there are only about 40 students in the entire senior class.

Shelia Duell will also join the Leadership team this year, Walter said. Other members are Tammy Lott-Hopkins, Teresa Oliver, Cline and Howard.

Red Carpet Country Conference

Howard said she will represent United at the Red Carpet Country Annual Tourism Conference this month in Alva.

She will have a table display for the town and asked for any giveaways that businesses have for her to share there.

She will also put together a silent auction item for that conference.

Present at the Meeting

Board members at the meeting were Cline, president; Lott-Hopkins, treasurer; Howard, secretary; Kaden Mitchell, Dagan Hardin, Hajek, Gritz, and Walter. Absent were Teresa Oliver, vice president, and Wes Hardin.

Next meeting

The August meeting was the board’s first in about three months and they set the next meeting for Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Wellness Mercantile. The board usually meets the third Thursday of each month.