NAS Kingsville volunteers during Ranch Hand Festival and Rodeo

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class John Sessions | Once a year, the historic King Ranch opens its gates to afford residents and visitors the chance to get a glimpse of what it’s like to be a cowboy or cowgirl for a day. With an estimated 3,200 participants to corral, the ranch relies on local volunteers such as the Sailors, Marines and civilians attached to Naval Air Station Kingsville to assist with the annual Ranch Hand Festival and Rodeo.  

KINGSVILLE, TX, UNITED STATES

11.22.2014

Courtesy Story

Naval Air Station Kingsville

KINGVILLE, Texas - Once a year, the historic King Ranch opens its gates to afford residents and visitors the chance to get a glimpse of what it’s like to be a cowboy or cowgirl for a day. With an estimated 3,200 participants to corral, the ranch relies on local volunteers such as the Sailors, Marines and civilians attached to Naval Air Station Kingsville to assist with the annual Ranch Hand Festival and Rodeo.

“Each year service members and civilians from NAS Kingsville and tenant commands provide volunteers to run one of the ‘chuck wagon’ food lines at Ranch Hand Breakfast and facilitate parking for the event,” said Fire Controlman 1st Class John Sessions, base volunteer coordinator for the event.

In its 24th year, the annual festival provided visitors with a chance to witness team roping and old-time cow camp cooking demonstrations along with storytelling and musical entertainment – events that Sessions says are often once-in-a-lifetime experiences for most.

“Aside from our bi-annual air show, the Ranch Hand Breakfast is our single largest opportunity to give back to the community of Kingsville,” said Sessions.

More than 50 service members and civilians from the base dedicated their Saturday to assisting with the operations and logistics components of the festival. For some, this was their first time volunteering.

“I volunteer on a regular basis for a variety of events, but this is the first time I’ve volunteered at King Ranch,” said Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Johnathan Smith. “I’ve been in Kingsville since January and I’m learning more about the history of the region and can already see the importance of community involvement in this tight-knit community.”

Smith has been active in volunteer opportunities including “Keep Kingsville Beautiful” since his arrival earlier this year and actively works to recruit more volunteers from the base to help make a positive impact on the community in which he lives and works.

According to King Ranch officials, local volunteers such as Smith are an integral part of the event who make it possible to accommodate events of this magnitude.

“The partnership between the King Ranch, Ranch Hand Breakfast and Naval Air Station Kingsville has benefited the community at large and assured a successful event each year,” said Ranch Hand Breakfast Chairman Bob Kinnan.

With the success of each event, Sessions and Smith say they are glad to be a part of these unique volunteer experiences within the local community.

Volunteering at King Ranch is just one community outreach initiative the NAS Kingsville command supports throughout the year to help Sailors engage with the American people they protect and provide the public with access to their Navy.

For more information about NAS Kingsville’s mission, visit http://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrse/installations/nas_kingsville.html.

• Date Taken: 11.22.2014
• Date Posted: 11.26.2014 11:34
• Story ID: 148913
• Location: KINGSVILLE, TX, US