Shannon Safely, Fun Days, June 19, 2026

Our guest on our program today, Shannon safely joins us to talk Ogden Fun Days. Shannon, we miss you. I miss you guys too. I tell you, but Fun Days, here we are. Who could it, well, we put the pressure on Ryan for the pleasant weather, okay? Yes. He said, you got to be responsible for something. Again, here we are wrapping up springtime and Fun Days, and it's upon us here this afternoon, Friday afternoon, five o'clock, things really get underway, things getting set up. First of all, let's talk a little bit about things come together pretty good. I know you've had a lot of people helping, a lot of hands getting in here this time. Yep, yep, couldn't do it by myself, that's for sure. I have a lot of great helpers. Darren Huntley runs the car show committee. Fantastic, he's got a great crew, and Lauren Britton helps with all the marketing, the website, all the graphics you see on Facebook and those designs. That's all Lauren. She designed this year's logo with the help of another gal, and so that was great. She did a great job. The theme this year was a little different. Windows to the past. Yep, and I'll get into that a little bit. With this being my last year, I wanted to take the time to honor some of Ogden's classics, the people that helped shape Ogden into what it is right now, and so I have several people that will be honoring during the parade, and then we'll be displaying biographies about them in the elementary school throughout the event. So the high school, a high school class helped me interview and put these really nice posters together to highlight them and their accomplishments, and again, how they helped. So you went out and rounded up young people to be a part of this thing? Yeah, yeah, because I was thinking, I was like, okay, there's so many, and it's just hard, it was hard to, you know, draw the line. So I said, how can I get as, how can I honor as many people as I can, and how can I get as many people together at once so that they all have an equal opportunity to be highlighted. So thankfully, Robin Pistotnik helped me with that, with her class, she was so excited, so enthusiastic. In fact, she was like, oh, I love this, I want to do this next year, and I said, well, this is just like on a theme, on a theme basis, but I said, absolutely, I was like, I could get you names and names and names and names of people. Every year we could do more. Absolutely, she was, she loved it, the students loved it, and everything turned out really good. It gives them a good project to do too. So basically, and yeah, Darren, after kind of, it was like, are you willing to be part of the car show because for the longest time, Dave did it, and then I was like, okay, well, we need somebody else that's willing to step up, and it pretty well will take care of itself. Yes. As long as you got somebody kind of logistically heading. Yep, and he does great, he goes around and he gets a lot of great sponsorships, and he just rounded up a great crew to help facilitate during, during the actual event. So yeah, he's great. And we just rely on, what's his name to keep the cars off the street. Yes. Ethan, way to go. We'll get you in here one way or another. Okay, so again, go to the school, we want people to go to the elementary school, please. And obviously, the way it's set up right now with the park and everything else, pretty easy to make it over there. Take a look at those. Yep. Those honorees. Honorees. Yes. Okay. And then again, the, are they car show going on? You got a lot of other things happening. And Scott's amusement's there. Again, thanks to them. Yes. They, it fits, it fits what they want to do. Yep. Yeah, it works out so good. And the thing I always tell people is people want the carnival. That's what, that's what everyone, when we didn't have it, that's what everybody wanted. And so it works out great. They're right up the road. Everybody wants the carnival. Everybody wants the carnival. So yeah, be sure to get those pre-sale tickets ASAP because they'll be going away tomorrow afternoon. Please, please do that. Do that in a hurry. They're going to be there to talk about your entertainment. You've got really things for everybody to do face painting. And you got a watermelon feed and everything else going on. But you got musical entertainment. Yep. And who do we, who do we have on the stage tonight? The squares? The squares. Yeah. So Dr. Greg at Ogden Family Dental, his son has a band with some of his buddies and he recommended them to me and said, just keep it in mind. And I was like, heck yeah, absolutely. And so I got in contact with, with their son and their college aged. That's okay. And so I got in contact with him, took him a little bit to get back to me. He goes, sorry, Shannon, my friend, my buddies and I are all in finals right now. So I caught him right in the middle in finals, but we got him booked and they'll be there. And then. So this is going to be like a first time out for them? Or have they done others? They do. Yeah, they do several others. Yeah. Yep. Yep. So I think they're. They're going to have a good time. Yes. Yeah. I'm excited. I'm excited for them. And then Saturday we'll have David Williamson back to do to be unplugged in the afternoon. And they, and that's a whole other. Yes. Yep. He's great. He's great. We love to have him and he loves to support. And whoever he brings to be a part of his entertainment. Right. Yeah. No, they're great. Well, I love to have him. And then Saturday night, that's going to be your, your bigger show. Yeah, we've got Blake Jack coming. He's performed quite frequently down on the free stage at the state fair. So he's pretty well known down there. So we'll, I look forward to having them as well. All right. That's just our stage entertainment. Yes, we have lots more face paintings coming two days this year. All right, caricature art will be two days this year. Again, the dunk tank will be back starting at noon. Tell me about vendors coming in. Are they going to be setting up around the park? How's that all? Yep. So we'll have our food vendors will be where they always are. We'll have the barbecue truck and the Euro guy, they call him. They'll be in their same spots as usual where they're always at. They're on the north side of the park. And then, of course, the senior food stand and make sure you support that. And that's next year's trip. Yes. Yep. You're supporting next year's trip. The class of 2027 really, really appreciates it. So yeah, we'll have them and then our craft and vendors fair on Saturday from 11 to four. We'll have several of those out in the green space on the south side of the enclosed shelter house. First time volleyball. So whose idea was this? I was approached by the volleyball coach. She asked if we could do that. So I was like, Yeah, absolutely. If you plan it, then absolutely. Yeah. Well, that's like so many things you have. If people want to be a part of it and want, I would like to do something. It's kind of like cross the cross country team. Yes. You know, now, now that's a big thing. The run walk, every to kick it off on Saturday morning. That's always big. Yeah, it's great. So they get out there and do that. So yeah, you got Jen doing this, the volleyball. And I hear they got, they had a lot of teams signed up. Did they fill it out? Yep. I think that last I checked, they had just one, one spot left, which is great. So and just a friendly reminder that parking for that will be behind the school as we'll be using what's open of the high school parking lot right now for the, for the parade lineup. Thank goodness. One of our challenges there. Yeah. But you know what? Well, that was the, they said all along. I kept asking Mr. Hire and he says, We'll work it out. Yeah, whatever it takes, we'll work it out. And it was one of those things I was thinking about it one day and I went, Oh no, there's no parking lot. And I, I called my friend Brett and he's like, Oh, I didn't even think about that either. Cause he helps with the parade. And then I said, Okay, I said, I'm not going to bother anybody with it. I'm just going to figure it out. No big deal. We'll be flexing. Yeah. And so when I put my message in with the city, I just said, just FYI, this could be a little chaotic. It'll be fine. Well, then Josh, Mr. Hire reached out to me and said, come in for a meeting. We'll get this figured out. And, and we did. And it's great. It's going to be just fine. So kids day, uh, kids, a fun days, kids parade. Yeah. First time you've actually had the kids go separately, just to give them their own. Yep. Just give them their own little time. Ashley Hunter approached me about that last year. I think she's been asking me about it the last couple of years, but I finally was like, Ashley, take it and run, do whatever you want. Yeah. Let somebody else. Yeah. So I said, Yep, you go right ahead. So, uh, they'll meet there at the bean plant, we call it, and they'll go up, uh, they'll head east towards first street and that's where it'll end. So it'll be a good four blocks there for them. That's enough for kids. Yes. Okay. Uh, Gene Davenport, we named the parade. Yeah. Gene Davenport parade. That's the big parade. And, and I know you can, everybody always says, well, where do we line up? You just go and shut line up. Okay. Yep. So you'll just meet in the, if you've got a float, if you're got a truck, if you've got anything that's not an oversized vehicle, you will go to the high school parking lot, park, meet your, meet your group. And then as soon as all of the vehicles are there, you don't, the humans don't have to be there. But once all the vehicles are there, go tell Marissa in the parking lot, check in and we'll get you to where you need to go. If you have walkers and stragglers behind, we've got shuttle drivers that will bring you to your float. We'll get there. Yep. All right. So we got that all going on. What are some of the other fun things you got going Saturday? Oh, we'll have mini golf again. And like I said, we'll have the Southside Pioneers dunk tank. And Magic Matt also comes back for two days. So he comes from Illinois. He is the coolest guy. We love him. And just all walks all over and just has a good time. Yep. Yeah. He just strolls throughout the park does balloon animals and all that fun stuff, which is great. And then we've got the hula hoop contest. Stephanie with Hammer Time Fitness has taken that, taken that on this year. So you can sign up for that right before the parade. She'll be at the DJ stand signing people up for that. And then we've got the bags tournament. The bags tournament this year will be hosted by the FCC LA class at the high school. And it'll be their fundraiser. This one of their fundraisers this year. And they'll register at two o'clock and then they'll get started at three o'clock. So one of those. Yeah, that helps support sending them off to some of their projects. I mean, people that go to national competitions. Yes. So yeah, it's the real deal to support that. Yep. It's the real deal. And then, of course, we've got bingo and that'll be from five to eight both lines. Lions always. Yep. Yep. Let's talk about your sponsors. You have, you got a bunch of new ones. And again, sponsors make it all possible because being able to put everything together. And I know, you know, yeah, that might comes, but it does cost to have it does the money comes in, but it goes right back out. So yeah, I greatly appreciate all of the sponsors. You know, you sometimes you have to get creative with the sponsorships. It's not always about writing a check if we can make a trade for something. It's huge and so helpful. Like the Ogden reporter, we trade that big ad that you'll see in the newspaper. We trade that for a sponsorship and it just little things like that just helps so, so much. Yes. Thanks for being there. Yes. Yeah. It's just so, it's so nice. So okay. Yep. So you got the Ogden reporter. Well, you got a whole bunch of them. You want to hit on? Yeah. No, I sure can. I'm going to read off this. I'm just going to read them off. Yep. Go ahead. So I've got Bear. This will take a little while. This will. Yeah, we had, yeah, we had a great success this year with sponsorships. Bear Crop Science, Cobblestone Inn & Suites, HF Farms, Iowa, Iowa Pipe and Grading, Landis Cooperative, Ogden Legacy, Ogden Family Chiropractic, Ogden Family Dental, Marine Ag Solutions, Eminent Ag Systems, Ogden Municipal Utilities, the Ogden Reporter, Ogden Telephone Company, the Ogden Water Buffaloes, People's Bank, Prichard Roofing and Construction, Seven Oaks, Vision Bank, Vestas, Vanwall, SNS Superior Swine. Those were our top, our Bulldog sponsors. Okay. They're the top ones. Yep. And then we've got the Platinum Sponsors, Dock Hall Trailers, United Bank of Iowa and Fairway. Our Gold Sponsors were all good things, Alley's Hair Care, BAME Insurance Agency, Boone County Family Medicine, The Dog House, Huntley Snow and Moe, Johnson & Sons, Real Estate & Insurance, Cruck Plumbing and Heating, Maxim Trekking & Materials, Ogden Farm & Feed, Overflow, Thrift Store, Rogers Plumbing & Heating and Wilson Toyota. Our Silver Sponsors were Functional Chiropractic, Good Wealth Financial, The Lucky Pig, Pub & Grill, MediCap Pharmacy, Ogden Lions Club and Tri-County Ag, and then our Bronze Sponsors, Arnold Motor Supply, Johnson Law Office and Ogden Total Fitness. Yeah. It was, yeah, seriously. I was gonna say, no, she's reading it. She didn't just throw it off the top of her head. But once we get to this point, it's like, okay, yep, they're there, they're there, they're there. So yeah, no, it's great. I greatly appreciate it. That's a big thing that helps a lot too. I mean, easy, was it easy to get them? I mean, that's hard to... It usually is. You gotta go out and say, you know, we want to do this. Yep. And you've got individual sponsors for different things. Yes. Yep. Yeah. So it's, it's great. I've noticed if, if I start too early, my mind's on Fun Days in March. Yeah. Nobody else's idea, nobody else's brain is on Fun Days in March. So this year, we, I pushed it back. And that's when it was a lot more successful when I tried closer to. Okay. And so then I had to get creative on, okay, and then I have to print the promo. So then that's a tight squeeze doing that, but we made it all work and it all worked out. So we just keep plugging away, don't we? Yes. Fun days, once again, fun for everybody. Once again, the whole family, bring them out. It's going to be Friday. Basically, things start around five, but some will be there a little earlier. So but yeah, get your tickets for the carnival. Get them right away. Yep. The bank's closed tomorrow. I didn't take that in a consideration. So Vision Bank will be closed tomorrow. So on Friday. So get, get those Friday before noon at Fairway. Okay. Yeah. Oh, that's right. Yeah, we got that going. I know. I didn't even think about it. Get them on Friday. Yep. And get them early and buy many. Yes. Buy a lot, please. Because kids always go to. They extended the wristband sessions this year. There's literally only going to be one hour of the whole carnival that you need. Tickets. Well, is that right? Yeah. Get the wristbands. Get the wristbands. Yeah. It's an easy way to go. Yeah. Again, still have your website and obviously follow along on Facebook, but website if they want to check the schedule and things like that. Easy to do. Yep. And again, just ready to come over and have a good time. Yep. Yep. It's going to be a good weekend. It's going to go fast. And I think it's going to be nice. It looks like it's going to be good weather. So we're someone is a little concerned about what his forecast says for rain on Saturday night. I'm saying, yeah, later. Yeah, later. We're manifesting it. We're manifesting later. Hey, but yeah, well, the one thing that comes to mind is this triple digit heat index ones. We've had a few of those. We did. We just had one last year on that Saturday and I tell you, it was absolutely brutal. Well, right now we're looking at awfully pleasant conditions as we get into it, but it's going to be a great time for one and all. Once again, fun days in Ogden this weekend. Everybody planned to go out there again with the, like we said, construction going on around the high school, the parking lot there. Little patience. Just have some patience getting through town. I think it should work out great. Pretty easy for you to get in town and get off to one of the side streets. If you want to go for the car show, there's going to be a lot of a lot of stuff happening there. A lot of people just walk it back and forth and you can get easy enough over to the park too. So look forward to having a great turnout. Shannon, thanks for coming in helping us get the word out. Fun days. Thank you.