The Harvest Fest is an annual event held by St. Mary’s Church on the first Friday and Saturday of October. Though it may seem exclusive to Hamburg, harvest festivals occur worldwide to celebrate the abundance of food from successful crops and how the community continues to receive plentiful harvests, as stated by Britannica. It parallels Thanksgiving’s principles of being grateful for what is often taken for granted. Those who attended this year’s festival enjoyed the many activities including rock climbing, bungee jumping, trampoline bouncing, ring tossing, bingo, and the raffle baskets. They also indulged in sweet and savory food like fried donuts, pretzels, hamburgers, chicken pot pie, and my favorite, the pierogies. “It’s really interesting. There’s a lot of fun activities to do, it’s for all ages…it’s just everything all in one,” said Isabella, a student who attended the festival.
Though the Harvest Festival was a success, volunteers were needed for it to go smoothly. As such, many from all walks of life gave some of their hours to help operate the rides, game booths, and kitchen, and, in the case of first responders, ensure the safety of those visiting. However, one HAHS student should be recognized for her lasting contributions to the festival. A yearly tradition for her, she has always found time to give her time. Isabella Forte is a high school senior known for playing on the field hockey team and having a vibrant social life. Despite her busy schedule, she helped volunteer at this year’s Harvest Fest, continuing her selfless tradition.
Isabella, also called Izzy, worked in the kitchen taking orders, serving food, and taking tickets, the festival’s form of currency. The environment was new for her as in the past, she only worked in the game booths resetting the activities for each new person. “This year we worked in the kitchen, but I usually do games. I really liked the kitchen this year and it was a really fun atmosphere,” Izzy said.
Though Izzy enjoyed the change in scenery, it came with bigger responsibilities and challenges. She noted feeling more people came this year. Consequently, she often felt restless and frustrated while being flooded with orders and frantically transitioning between her duties to fulfill them. “I accidentally miscalculated someone’s tickets and gave them the wrong amount when doing food because I was trying to get chips or fries ready and they were coming at me with orders … and I accidentally gave the lady the wrong ticket amount,” Izzy explained. The lady mentioned paid less than the food’s cost, but Izzy considered the error an act of charity and did not worry. Having one of the most demanding jobs and being constantly pushed, she finds that if she had worked longer hours, she would compare her work to that of a regular job.
While Izzy volunteers because she is a thoughtful person, she also sees its practicality when considering one’s future. “Get those volunteer hours in! It’s always great to put on a resume or a college application; all the things that you do really add up,” she commented. Considering her desire to help others and enrich herself in school, her potentially long resume tells of a bright future ahead of her. If students do not have time to wait 12 months for the next Harvest Fest, they should instead see Isabella Forte as a role model and an example of how selflessness can be rewarding.
For more information about different harvest festival traditions, visit https://www.britannica.com/list/5-harvest-festivals-around-the-world#:~:text=The%20harvest%20season,of%20the%20process. For resources related to volunteering, search https://www.uwberks.org/youth-summer-volunteer-opportunities/.
