MOSCOW PULLMAN DAILY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

Publication: Daily News
Category: News
Published: 08/21/04
Page: 1A
Byline: By Wendy Wikstrom, For the Daily News

 

VOLUNTEERS KEEP ANNUAL PULLMAN PARTY ON TRACK

Becky Dark is in her 10th year as coordinator of the National Lentil Festival Cook-Off. It's an act of kindness adjusted to fit her intense schedule as a Realtor.

“When I came into real estate I reinitiated the cook-off. Part of the reason other than community service is I'm a former home economics teacher. These foods, such as lentils, give you nutrition and good economy,” says Dark.

Lentils grown in Washington and Idaho make up 95 percent of the United States' lentil crop; much like how some Pullman and Washington State University employees and the volunteers spend 95 percent of their time planning for today's Lentil Festival. Many businesses and sponsors are behind the festival scene this weekend. Dark says the Methodist Church made its kitchen available to participants of the cook-off. People from the city's Parks and Recreation department not only help with garbage and electricity to make the weekend flow; they transport food and ice for Dark and her crew.

Whether one attends the festival for the food, the parade, the arts and crafts or for numerous other events and competitions, it's obvious the events are well synchronized. That's made possible because of the 26 coordinators and their crews of volunteers. Most of the volunteers likely got roughly five hours of sleep Friday night, and they all seem to receive support from their families -- who are often contributors to the festival as well.

“I'd like to say 'hi' to my kids; they haven't seen me in a week,” said Kristi Kurle, volunteer coordinator for the parade. Kurle is a former executive director for the Pullman Chamber of Commerce and was in charge of the parade when it began 13 years ago. Her son is a Scout in the parade and in recent years has proved his versatility by helping clean up after the equestrian participants.

Becky Phillips, coordinator for the farming exhibit, says her kids like to participate too. “Some original ideas of fun things to do, such as combine rides, came from them brainstorming together as we'd laugh in the car,” she said. “We had a farmer willing to give combine rides, but unfortunately the insurance company had some slight concerns.”

The Lentil Festival Committee started working on this year's festival a few days after last year's festival. The cook-off crew for the Lentil Festival began the preliminary process earlier in the year. Carolyn Joswig-Jones requested recipes from across the United States and received recipe entries in July, which were tasted as the finalists at today's Lentil Cook-Off taste test. Kay Burnham started on the arts and crafts entries in April and it consumed 30 percent of her time in August.

“I willingly delayed my vacation so we are leaving Sunday morning instead of Friday evening, to make sure these tasks are done. It's important to follow through with the work I've started with the vendors,” Burnham said. “We're cooperating with the city; however, they have been doing this long enough that Michelle Posey and Fritz Hughes with the chamber have this down to a science. They're always tweaking to make it better but they have it down well.”

“We couldn't do it without all these volunteers,” said festival director Michelle Poesy. “I have the best job and get to work with really great people.” Volunteers and support extends even further than the coordinators.

Tim Marsh, a WSU employee, takes photographs and has been involved with the festival for 16 years. John Croteau, a cook at the Pullman Senior Center, donates cooking supplies. Kurle's expertise as a volunteer partly comes from her previous efforts representing Pullman and the chamber at parades in other counties.

Dark emphasized the importance of additional volunteers because of the time constraints. It is her busiest time of year as a Realtor and most of the volunteers are busy with the start of the school year or harvest. “It's sometimes difficult to find them,” she said. “Call me to volunteer for next year.”

 

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