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 Living within my means
Posts: 5128
  
Location: Randolph, Utah | In your smaller associations how do you get members, or anyone, to help?
We've been drawing a free entry for barrel setters but that's not been enticing people to help.
We have a public arena so we have to water and work it ourself, no one will volunteer for that either.
Someone suggested each week pull X amount of members out of a hat and they're in charge of getting the arena ready, and getting barrel setters.
Another suggestion was you, or a representative for you, has to set barrels at X amount of races to be eligible for year end awards, but that doesn't help with the arena prep, and maybe board members will have to be in charge of that.
Any other suggestions, we're small races 35-40 runners a week.
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | You might eventually have to resort to hiring help. Tack on an extra $5 per entry and when people start to b!tch about it tell them why. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| At our association, you had to have X amount of work points to be eligible for year end awards. All of the jobs it takes to put on a barrel race counted. Also if you got X amount of dollars/awards donated, that also counted for points. We also gave an award for the person with the most work points. It helped alot, although at the end of the season, especially at the finals, we had to beg people to help. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| We also have to have workpoints to be elgible for year end awards, still don't ever have enough barrel setters. One local association has 24 shows/year. Each show is assgined an office and a director who are in charge of arena prep.
Like Bear said, hiring help is the easiest way.
Edited by rodeomom3 2015-06-23 10:06 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
 
| I know some organizations make it a requirement that their members work at a certain number of races before they are eligible for year end awards. |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | It's just easier to add a $5 fee on all entries and be done with it. Explain why, and leave it at that. You don't need the continuous hassle of harping at people to set barrels and man the gate. $5 is nothing. If you can't afford it, you shouldn't be barrel racing, in my opinion. |
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Veteran
Posts: 127
Location: Kansas | we have an arena fee of $5and then we also have each member put on 1-2 races to be eligible for awards. my old association had the arena fee and each memeber had to help for atleast 1 jackpot to get awards. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 550
| Add the fee & hire a 4H club or church youth group to help. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Not a really a suggestion on how to get people to help, but just want to bring up another perspective.
I usually run 2 horses at our local jackpots where there is usually about the same number of entries (around 35). My young horse needs more attention and time, and I honestly do not have any time to help at all while the barrel race is going on. By the time I get both of them warmed up, and cooled down, boots put on and off, etc, the race is done.
However, I would glady pay an office fee to hire people to help out, if that is what is needed to keep the barrel races running.
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | At the local gymkhanas, each rider is required to help 4 of the 5 races. There's a sign up sheet for each "job". If anyone wants season end awards, they make sure they're on the list. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| r_beau - 2015-06-23 11:52 AM
Not a really a suggestion on how to get people to help, but just want to bring up another perspective.
I usually run 2 horses at our local jackpots where there is usually about the same number of entries (around 35). My young horse needs more attention and time, and I honestly do not have any time to help at all while the barrel race is going on. By the time I get both of them warmed up, and cooled down, boots put on and off, etc, the race is done.
However, I would glady pay an office fee to hire people to help out, if that is what is needed to keep the barrel races running.
THIS 100X over. I go to a race to RUN, not to work. I would MUCH rather pay extra to have gate help, barrel setters, etc. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | Bear - 2015-06-23 10:52 AM It's just easier to add a $5 fee on all entries and be done with it. Explain why, and leave it at that. You don't need the continuous hassle of harping at people to set barrels and man the gate. $5 is nothing. If you can't afford it, you shouldn't be barrel racing, in my opinion.
This! All of the organizations I routinely part take in have had to just add on an office fee that covers hiring help. We still have the BOD in charge of things but the gate/arena/ announcing is all hired in. SOOOOOO much easier then begging for help. Contact your local 4-h groups or high school equestrian teams and you should be able to get your help for the year.
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 Chicken Chick
Posts: 3562
Location: Texas | I would rather pay for help also. If I wanted to work I wouldn't be at a barrel race lol. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| We are giving a free warm up for a future show in our series to anyone who sets barrels for 2 drags.
If I knew I was just going to be in a drawing and not guaranteed anything, it wouldn't entice me as much. I have a young horse who is going to get a lot of warm ups this year so as long as we have enough running that I can do warm ups in him, run my good horse and get him taken care of, I'll go back and help set to earn warmups for the next show. |
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Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | Thank you for all your suggestion. Keep them coming.
I agree if you're running you don't have time to help, especially at a 30-40 head race. |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | I agree with hiring people and put on an extra arena fee. The people that say they can't afford it can work and it would pay for their extra fee plus help with their entries. |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | JcNhEmI - 2015-06-23 2:28 PM Thank you for all your suggestion. Keep them coming. I agree if you're running you don't have time to help, especially at a 30-40 head race.
Around here...that barrel race would be over with in less then an hour. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | tack on that fee and maybe in a couple years you'll have enough members that won't want to pay it anymore and will step up to the plate.
can you have a system like:
if you don't want to pay that fee you can have someone as a representative of the rider work a portion of the show? have a set amount of people you need to use? Just Brainstorming
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
| The best way to do it is to hire your own help. Not sure where the money goes, but if the proceeds go toward year end awards or a big money finals, show the members the difference between volunteering vs. paying the help.
I always roll my eyes when people say they don't have enough time to help because they are riding, etc. I put on dozens of shows a year or am hired to run the show office and I STILL manage to run 2+ horses at every show and exhibition a few colts. Its called time management. You can volunteer to help, even if its for 10-15 minutes at a time, and still have plenty of time to ride your horses.
But to the OP, hire your help. Its much easier and so much less stressful trying to find help the day of the show!! |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | One of the things I've noticed is that if you are looking for help take what you get, I don't mean to sound snarky but listen, I will come in the office offer to help and most can't think of a thing for me to do, I'm there, hand me a stack of checks to put in order, tell me to run results whatever, announce while you do something else etc. Time management goes both ways a good producer will have their stuff together and know when/how to ask for help. They will also have clear and concise rules and make decisions accordingly, so if you feel like you lack there a little put it together.
I used to put on barrel races when I was younger (20-25) and let me tell you it is much easier when you don't have a family or kids to worry about so to the young ladies, now is the time to step up and give it a whirl!
There is a reason I don't do it anymore---I don't want to! I will try to step up wherever I can but when it isn't appreciated I get over my 'help out' attitude real quick! We have some really super producers around here and they are good at acquiring help without much asking because they appreciate the contestants and brag on their help. They plan ahead instead of scrambling the day of. Also, like mentioned before a lot of our local 4-H or FFA groups earn money for trips etc by helping. Contestants need to appreciate help that may not know what they are doing and help educate the uneducated instead of sitting in the bleachers complaining.
sorry....kind of went off the track a little. Be the best producer you can and good luck, sometimes people suck! |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I guess that I'm one of the few that could less about a year end awards, I would go to the barrel race to ride and if I got the chance to help in the arena I would, theres been a few times I would be working in the arena sitting up my barrel and then my hour would be up and guess what no one would come and work the barrel after my time was up and I would sit there for another hour sitting up barrels when I should be warming up my horses, so this girl dont sit barrels any more unless its after I ride and cool my horse out.
But I could care less about getting an award, but will help if I have the time. I think its just better if they hire a couple of high school kids to set barrels. They do sometimes here hire high school kids to be barrel setters. |
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 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| Just another reason why I stopped putting on shows. Trying to get help was too stressful.
I get that you want to find balance, and also respect that some go to a show to not work. But then those people are also just as quick to complain about cost.
You just can't make everyone happy. Putting on shows is very thankless.
My main job is thankless enough-screw putting my neck out there for others. Not many appreciated it anyways. A handful did.
Edited by magic gunsmoke 2015-06-23 5:33 PM
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | I want to caution hiring for help. It is hard when you don't know the person some can't be dependable. It is great to have a few that really care and want to do like you said to. Setting barrels is a serious job! |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| magic gunsmoke - 2015-06-23 5:31 PM
Just another reason why I stopped putting on shows. Trying to get help was too stressful.
I get that you want to find balance, and also respect that some go to a show to not work. But then those people are also just as quick to complain about cost.
You just can't make everyone happy. Putting on shows is very thankless.
My main job is thankless enough-screw putting my neck out there for others. Not many appreciated it anyways. A handful did.
Yep, that was my experience, too. There were a few who were really thankful, but more were not. |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | Nevertooold - 2015-06-23 2:29 PM
I agree with hiring people and put on an extra arena fee. The people that say they can't afford it can work and it would pay for their extra fee plus help with their entries.
In my opinion, if you can't afford an extra 5 bucks because your budget is so tight, then barrel racing should be a very low priority. $5 is nothing these days. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Bear - 2015-06-23 6:22 PM Nevertooold - 2015-06-23 2:29 PM I agree with hiring people and put on an extra arena fee. The people that say they can't afford it can work and it would pay for their extra fee plus help with their entries. In my opinion, if you can't afford an extra 5 bucks because your budget is so tight, then barrel racing should be a very low priority. $5 is nothing these days.
I agree, hire to set barrels  |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Bear - 2015-06-23 6:22 PM Nevertooold - 2015-06-23 2:29 PM I agree with hiring people and put on an extra arena fee. The people that say they can't afford it can work and it would pay for their extra fee plus help with their entries. In my opinion, if you can't afford an extra 5 bucks because your budget is so tight, then barrel racing should be a very low priority. $5 is nothing these days.
Ya think? LOL |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| Griz - 2015-06-23 11:58 AM r_beau - 2015-06-23 11:52 AM Not a really a suggestion on how to get people to help, but just want to bring up another perspective.
I usually run 2 horses at our local jackpots where there is usually about the same number of entries (around 35). My young horse needs more attention and time, and I honestly do not have any time to help at all while the barrel race is going on. By the time I get both of them warmed up, and cooled down, boots put on and off, etc, the race is done.
However, I would glady pay an office fee to hire people to help out, if that is what is needed to keep the barrel races running.
THIS 100X over. I go to a race to RUN, not to work. I would MUCH rather pay extra to have gate help, barrel setters, etc.
Me too!! |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10797
Location: Kansas | Being yelled at at barrel races to set barrels and open gates is one of many reasons why I've chosen casinos over barrel races. They don't ask you to deal the cards at a blackjack table.
Sitting around all day waiting for one person with a little pull to run their ten horses while you wait to run your one is something I certainly don't miss either.
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Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | Frodo - 2015-06-24 6:23 AM
Being yelled at at barrel races to set barrels and open gates is one of many reasons why I've chosen casinos over barrel races. They don't ask you to deal the cards at a blackjack table.
Sitting around all day waiting for one person with a little pull to run their ten horses while you wait to run your one is something I certainly don't miss either.
I love this!
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Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | Thanks for all your suggestions. I'm not the one putting them on, I'll pass the suggestions on to the lady in charge.
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Getting people to help. . . . Small jackpots