“My work is somewhere else.

Something else.

I have ideas of things to make.

Lots of them.

Book, films, teachings, tours— the ideas never stop coming.

Like I have to make them, or I’ll spontaneously combust. I sit in those meetings with this voice in my head constantly repeating,

I just wish I could do my work.”

- Rob Bell, Everything is Spiritual

Welcome to the page where I get to share with you my volunteer and work experience:) This page is in chronological order, so to see my most recent experiences, scroll to the bottom.

From volunteering to working to all the odds and ends in between, I have two philosophies:

  1. Everything is easier to do when you have a smile on your face and are creating a positive atmosphere around you.

  2. Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

Let’s start at the very beginning, shall we?

Volunteer Work at the Stables

I was too young to work legally, but I loved being around the horses and helping out on the farm, so they allowed me to volunteer every Saturday morning at the crack of dawn. I had the time of my life!

Responsibilities involved cleaning stalls, emptying the bed of the side-by-side when we filled it with the dirty bedding, laying new bedding after cleaning, watering, feeding, and turning out the horses to pasture.

Martial Arts Volunteer Teaching

For about 4-5 years, I trained in Taekwondo weekly (at times daily up to several hours a day during my homeschooling years). As most martial arts schools do, our dojang had the higher ranks volunteer teach the lower ranks. As I promoted to higher belts, I often helped teach the lower ranks in class. I also helped run a day camp during the summer in which I led stretches, warmups, and taught the basic movements to beginners.

Oktoberfest Volunteer Work

Pictured here is a short clip of some guests and I playing Hammerschlagen (a traditional German nail-driving game).

I volunteered for a nearby town’s Oktoberfest put on by some German-born locals. I served food donned in a traditional dirndl.

Reenacting for the WW2 TBM Avenger Reunion as a Women’s Air Force Service Pilot (WASP).

Every year, our town has an airshow which honors our local Veterans and serves as a reunion for owners of the TBM Avengers still existing and operating today, serving as surviving pieces of our history. There are not many left in the country, but we have had quite a few flown in from all parts of the country to our little town so Veterans and locals alike can experience the “wall of fire” in which all the Avengers are lined up next to each other and their engines are revved to full power while flames glow blue and purple out the sides. For more info on this great event or to see a video of previous years, visit TBM Avenger Reunion

Though any seasoned reenactor would quickly point out that my uniform is not 100% historically accurate, I did my best with what I had to stay as true to character as the brave women in the 1940s. I spent each day of the event selling charity raffle tickets, assisting in set up, greeting and interacting with guests, and escorting Veterans around the premises. The experience was so rewarding as I could see the effect it had on some of the Veterans who had memories of the 1940s and their older brothers or fathers going to war and their mothers serving back home. I heard many, “My mother looked just like you when she was younger,” or “You look just like my sister in the 40s.” That filled my heart.

Pictured here are two legends: my very own Papa (a Veteran stationed in France during Vietnam) and “Tanker Ed”, a Veteran who, at the age of 80-something, started up his own Avenger and flew it all the way from the East Coast to Illinois for the show.

The fine gentleman like this are why I love volunteering for this event each year.

Gardening Volunteering

I also volunteered at the same local airport to paint their park benches, plant flowers, and water the flowers every night for two summers. It was an excellent way for me to get my hands dirty and soak in nature. Plus, it had the added benefit of beautiful sunsets over the tarmac while I watered.

Working for the city

This was my longest running paid job, and I loved it! I worked for my city’s parks department every summer for three years. My job was to clear back foliage from, scrape, prep, and paint curbs, crosswalks, guardrails, parking spots, and fire hydrants. I loved working in the sunshine every day, and by the pictures, you can probably tell I didn’t mind getting dirty.

Election Judging

For two separate elections, I served as an election judge for local precincts. An election judge’s job is to verify signatures, administer ballots, and create a secure and safe polling place for voters. We also set up all the equipment, tear it down at the end of the day, assist with special requests including curbside voting, and ensure the utmost security when transporting the ballots at the end of the night. These are often 15-hour days, but the experience is fulfilling and rewarding.

Working at Lone Mountain Ranch

Lone Mountain Ranch is what first brought me to Montana all the way from Illinois. I was hired as a hostess for the Horn and Cantle restaurant here on ranch (serving as the “handshake of the restaurant” greeting guests with a smiling face). During last summer season, while hosting, I also worked events including our weekly Sunday BBQ’s. I was then moved up to being an AM server at the end of last season. When we returned for the winter season, I first worked as a server on our famous Sleigh Ride Dinners. Then, I became a PM assistant server (SA). I also volunteered for our summer youth program and absolutely loved working with the kids. This coming summer season, I will be an SA along with working events again including Sunday BBQ’s and our well-known Tuesday Night Rodeos every week.

Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Rodeo

I was able to have the awesome experience of working the Big Sky PBR Rodeo through Lone Mountain Ranch serving food and drinks. Getting there early every morning to set up also meant I got the privilege of seeing all the behind-the-scenes of the event including watching all the bulls being brought to the pens behind the chutes!

The days were very long (sometimes close to 12hr shifts), but I was so in my element that they felt super short. The bar I was working behind was right next to the live music, too, and given that I want to eventually work in the live music industry, I was living my dream. I would love to work on a rodeo circuit if given the opportunity!

Stagehand for broadway musicals and more

In an effort to familiarize myself more with live productions, I have started working as a stagehand at a local arena where I have helped load in, set up, and load out the stage and equipment for “Chicago” the Broadway Musical when they came to Bozeman on their “Cell Block” tour and Sturgill Simpson on his “Who the F—k is Johnny Blue Skies” tour.