Snacks sell: FFA members keep crowd fed at basketball games
By JESSICA BERNHARDT
MHS student reporter
Concessions are a big part of Marion High School's athletic events. Whether it is 20 degrees at a football game, or it feels like 110 degrees in the gym at a basketball game, members of Marion's FFA chapter are ready and willing to serve customers at concession stands.
This year mark's FFA adviser Mark Meyer's 18th year as a sponsor for the concession stands, but 10 years before that, FFA was on top of the ball serving customers at games.
About 10 to 15 years ago, Meyer gave up serving customers at football games due to the fact that he was a football coach.
"It was difficult to be in charge of stocking and preparing the concession stands and be an assistant football coach at the same time," Meyer said.
Warrior Boosters are now in charge of home football games, and MHS Singers are in charge of home volleyball games. FFA still works the stands at all home basketball games.
Concession stands are major fund-raisers for the FFA chapter. Members work behind the counter and usually sign up for nights they are available. Profits from the concession stands benefit the members by paying registration and part of the lodging fees at conventions. The money also allows members to participate in leadership meetings, and helps defray expenses at the end-of-the-year FFA banquet.
As an incentive for working at the concession stands, members earn points. By earning a number of points, the members can trade in points for prizes from an FFA catalog. For freshmen, these points help reduce the price they must pay for their FFA jackets.
For Meyer, running the concessions almost could qualify as a full-time job. He checks the stock before each game and places orders through a company in El Dorado, giving them enough time to get the items to Marion.
Placing pizza orders often proves to be difficult because it is not easy trying to decide how many beef pizzas to get, or how many pepperoni pizzas might be sold.
Meyer would like to establish student committees to be in charge of placing orders and deciding how much the stand will need. He said that the concession stand "runs out more often that I'd like it to."
After joining the Mid-Central Activities Association (MCAA) league, Marion decided to raise their prices. They were the last in the league to do so.
On a good night, the concession stands may sell up to 200 pieces of pizza. Other top sellers include popcorn and bottled drinks.
After Meyer's own children get into high school, he would like to hand off the baton to another organization and focus on their activities.
