Volunteers needed for Ozark Ham & Turkey Festival

The tables provided for the Kiwanis Ham Breakfast were packed full nearly all day Sept. 15, 2018, during the Ozark Ham and Turkey Festival.
The tables provided for the Kiwanis Ham Breakfast were packed full nearly all day Sept. 15, 2018, during the Ozark Ham and Turkey Festival.

Summer and fall will bring parades and festivals for residents to enjoy, but the planners for the 29th annual Ozark Ham & Turkey festival have already identified one thing the festival will need: volunteers.

Chairman for the last 14 years, Brad Baer said the committee is always looking for people to help.

"It's not too late for light duty volunteers," Baer said.

Some of those duties include directing parking downtown and helping guests navigate during the parade.

The festival committee requests no vehicles park on Oak Street between Smith and South streets during the parade.

"When it comes down to the day of, we always need volunteers to help manage people," Baer said.

Volunteers are also needed during cleanup.

The festival is scheduled Sept. 21 near the historic Moniteau County Courthouse in California. Committee members have been meeting monthly since March to plan the day. This month, the group discussed advertising, T-shirts and free fans to give to patrons.

Guests are welcome to attend the meetings at 5:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month to give feedback or suggestions, Baer said.

This year, a three-on-three basketball event is in the planning stages. The event would take place at the outdoor basketball court. Team signups will be coordinated through the committee.

A bicycle parade, which was introduced last year, is also in the planning stages, with hopes to expand, Baer said. Decorated bicycles, tricycles or unicycles with riders of any age may be entered.

To fill more performance time, local bands, groups or soloist are encouraged to sign up.

"We do have some space if some amateurs or volunteers want to perform their thing," Baer said.

Anyone interested in signing up for volunteer work can call the California Chamber of Commerce at 573-796-3040 or visit the office located inside city hall 8 a.m.-noon Monday through Friday.