From Hometown Festivals to Business Growth: Why Community Engagement Matters

In this episode of Chamber Amplified from the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, we're introducing you to the newest member of the Alliance staff, Sarah Foltz. Sarah shares what makes her so passionate about community engagement and how her new role will help connect and elevate different parts of our community, from the Hancock Leadership programs to the ArtWalk festival.

We’ll also dive into the history of one of Findlay’s largest community events, Oktoberfest. Sarah, a key organizer, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how the festival got its start, how it’s grown to attract thousands of visitors, and why it's so important for local businesses and the Hancock Historical Museum. Plus, find out how you and your business can get involved!

Music and sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

Transcript

0:00:02 - (Doug Jenkins): Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Chamber Amplified Podcast, brought to you from the Findlay Hancock County Chamber of Commerce. I'm your host, Doug Jenkins. Are you looking for new ways to grow your business? Maybe navigate challenges that are happening right now, or just stay in the loop into what's happening in our community? If so, guess what? You're in the right place. Every week we're talking about issues that matter most to you, whether that's attracting new talent, marketing your business more effectively, solving it issues, everything in between.

0:00:29 - (Doug Jenkins): We're giving you tips and updates that you need to succeed. That's right. I finally changed. After, what, three years? I finally changed the intro to the show. Look at me go. Here's what's coming up on today's edition of the podcast. Let's meet our new staff member here at the Alliance, Sarah Foltz. We're really happy to have her on board. We're going to talk about her role here at the alliance, why being a part of the community is important to her and why being part of community events is important for area businesses. We're going to connect all of that.

0:00:57 - (Sarah Foltz): We.

0:00:57 - (Doug Jenkins): Oh, by the way, there's a pretty big community event coming up this week, Oktoberfest. Perhaps you've heard of it. We're gonna talk a little bit about that, too. Its history, how it got started and how it got so big, and how you can get involved in it, too. That's all coming up. Be sure to rate and review this show on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify. It really does help spread the word. Now let's get into it.

0:01:19 - (Doug Jenkins): Welcome again to the podcast for the first time, probably not the last time. Sarah Foltz, who works with us here at the alliance now. Sarah, thanks for joining us.

0:01:28 - (Sarah Foltz): Thanks for having me.

0:01:29 - (Doug Jenkins): So we always, every time someone new starts here, we always throw them on the podcast within the first month so they can get. Get that experience out of the way. But you have a unique role here at the Alliance. This is a new position. Tell us a little bit about what you're going to be doing.

0:01:45 - (Sarah Foltz): Yeah. So I am so grateful. This new position allows me to work with all three divisions here at the Alliance. So with the Chamber, for example, I'm so excited to be helping take over the coordination of some of the leadership programs. So Hancock Leadership, Hancock Youth Leadership. We have some new things in the works along those lines, too. And then in addition to that, there's community engagement, where.

0:02:12 - (Sarah Foltz): Let's talk Art Walk. For example, the visitors bureau coordinates Art Walk. So I'll be taking over that. Any events or ways I can assist that. The Economic Development Division, I'll be doing that. For example, we're working on the upcoming golf outing for economic development right now. So it is really cool to be able to have a hand and help streamline, but also push some of these programs forward that come out of the alliance. Some of my favorites. I've always joked about wanting to do Hancock leadership again, so now being able to play a hand in coordinating it, I get to experience it for every session moving forward.

0:02:48 - (Sarah Foltz): So. Yeah, and so many other different ways, you know, that I can be a resource and help bridge people together. So when we're talking about some of our community events and ways that we can get involved, America 250 is something that we're talking about a lot right now. I will continue spearheading our planning committee for that to make sure that next year Findlay and Hancock county celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. So a lot of things all up in the air, but event planning and community engagements in my blood, so.

0:03:22 - (Doug Jenkins): Well, yeah, like you said, community engagement is something that you've always had a passion for. You've done it through a number of different ways through. Through the museum, most recently before coming here. What about that? What speaks to you about that? What makes you want to be in. Involved from a community standpoint?

0:03:42 - (Sarah Foltz): That's such a good question.

0:03:44 - (Doug Jenkins): And I aim for one per podcast. So we got there.

0:03:47 - (Sarah Foltz): Good job. Hit your quota. I. It went into my blood so early on, my very first career out of college was with the Arts Partnership. So now we know that as the Marathon center for the Performing Arts. But as an intern in college and then as their event director, I was planning street festivals. So a lot of the old Findlay favorites, people may remember Boogie on Main, there was Riboff on Broadway, there was Riverside Wine Festival, a lot of different events like that that I got to play a part in. And realized very early on that seeing people come together and making memories and then watching folks, whether they have lived here their entire lives, they're new to Findlay or Hancock county, or. Or they're just driving in to experience the event that day.

0:04:37 - (Sarah Foltz): Watching them make these meaningful experiences and then in turn make it a tradition to come to every year. So that is something that I don't know how you can replicate that feeling of playing a part in. Seeing the smiles on everyone's faces. And at the same time, it takes a certain person. I didn't ask for this. But to want to live in chaos Right. So. So when the event day comes, it is just constantly a puzzle, right? You're making sure everyone is in their places, all the puzzle pieces have gone to the right place at the right time, and then you're constantly just pivoting and adjusting. So I think that speaks to my time spent in the hospitality industry as well. I've done a lot of wedding coordination.

0:05:22 - (Sarah Foltz): I've ran restaurants and bars, and it is very much that same line, that same theme of always being ready to put out fires. But. But make sure no one knows that there was ever a fire to begin with.

0:05:33 - (Doug Jenkins): It's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.

0:05:35 - (Sarah Foltz): I don't know about that, but hey, I just keep finding myself doing it so well.

0:05:40 - (Doug Jenkins): We're going to give you all you can handle in that department for sure. Here at the alliance, speaking of community events and engaging the community and creating new traditions for the city, you were very paramount in the creation of Oktoberfest and running Oktoberfest over the last several years. And we'll continue to help out with that, especially this year. Talk just a little bit about the history of it as the.

0:06:05 - (Doug Jenkins): As the week of this podcast coming out will be Oktoberfest in downtown Findlay. How did it come about? How has it evolved, and what will your role be in it this year? That's actually three questions into one, which is a horrible way to interview people, but that's where we're at.

0:06:20 - (Sarah Foltz): Hey, you are above and beyond, though. I think those are all great questions, too. It makes sense that I was recruited onto the very first Oktoberfest planning committee well over 11 years ago. This week, we're celebrating the 11th annual Oktoberfest Findlay. But we started planning it, of course, well before that. And I think because of my engagement with the street festivals that we already had, I was currently working at the Arts Partnership.

0:06:51 - (Sarah Foltz): It made sense to say, hey, do you want to come join the Oktoberfest planning committee? And if you know Bill Wolf, who is the owner of Wolfie's Nuts, it was actually his vision and he brought together a great group of people. It started very much as a let's try to bring back or recreate the famous German festivals, especially the Genera Oktoberfest. We had several other ones within Hancock county as well. They had a lot of fond memories of people just coming together. And they always compared it to kind of a family reunion, but also seeing fun friends, old colleagues, people you used to go to school with.

0:07:29 - (Sarah Foltz): And that event no longer existed. So he wanted to recreate that, but in a Findlay version. So we were able to put all of our brains together and say, okay, we have a template. We know how to make street festivals run here in Findlay. How can we bridge this idea of a German Heritage festival? And also, if you know Wolfie, he's very involved in the home brewers club here in Hancock County. A lot of members of that group still today are part of the planning committee for Oktoberfest. So we bridged the best of both worlds with a German Heritage festival being in downtown Findlay and then also keeping that local craft beer aspect to it.

0:08:12 - (Sarah Foltz): So fast forward to now. It's 11 years strong. It's still the largest single day festival in Hancock county and surrounding areas. We're super proud of that. We usually bring in between five and 6,000 people. And of course, that's not just Findlay and Hancock county residents. We have people traveling here for that. And at the end of the day, it's such a vital event. It's the number one fundraiser for our Hancock Historical Museum here in Hancock County. So we're not only celebrating our German roots and our history there, but we're also at the same time raising funds so that our Hancock Historical Museum can continue preserving our story, educating all ages, and being able to make sure that years and years from now, we have preserved all of the stories that we want to make sure we never lose.

0:09:00 - (Doug Jenkins): What I like about it, There's a lot to like about it. First of all, it's just a fun event. I've never had a bad time at Oktoberfest, but just from a chamber standpoint, from an alliance standpoint, I love that it one brings the community together, but also brings people into the community. Maybe they're experiencing downtown for the first time. Maybe they haven't been downtown in a while and they're seeing things a little bit differently.

0:09:23 - (Doug Jenkins): It's a great opportunity for the downtown businesses to showcase themselves, but I think the city as a whole to showcase themselves. Especially if you're coming off the interstate to get there, if you're coming through town. What are some of the best ways that area businesses and organizations can use an event like Oktoberfest to help showcase themselves?

0:09:40 - (Sarah Foltz): Well said. The landscape itself puts our downtown on a pedestal, right? It is so cool to be able to be inside Oktoberfest or walking around the outside. If you're just coming down town that day to be visiting a local restaurant and then you think, oh, what's going on out there? It's such a perfect location. But we work with hundreds of people and a multitude of businesses. Not just on a sponsorship level though. We the event can't happen without the sponsors that we have.

0:10:10 - (Sarah Foltz): We're so grateful for them and there's always room for more. We get really creative with how can we make this an opportunity for a local business that may want to do something more creative and unique to get their brand out there. So whether that is being the presenter of a certain activity at Oktoberfest or the main stage entertainment, however, we like to work with different businesses, all different sizes, to find something that works for them.

0:10:38 - (Sarah Foltz): And in addition to that, we make sure that all of those sponsors have opportunities to engage with each other at the festival. So just last year, actually this will be the second year we have a VIP tent that all sponsors receive passes to. Regular, you know, anyone can buy tickets to it as well, but it's a cool place with guaranteed shade and seating where you can also network with other folks. And then we also have a bunch of opportunities in our kids area. So although you think of German Heritage Festival, you think of all the different beers you're going to try and enjoy, we really make sure that it stays a family friendly event.

0:11:14 - (Sarah Foltz): So on the I call it the north end of the festival where the mainstream stages and the music and dancing. We also have a huge kids area that runs from 2 to 7 o' clock for kids to visit over 20 different booths, whether they're getting giveaways or making a craft or playing a game. And that is a combination of the Hancock Historical Museum planning activities and then local nonprofit organizations bringing activities in as well.

0:11:39 - (Sarah Foltz): So I think last I counted we have well over 11 local nonprofits setting up a booth and engaging with the community there in that way too.

0:11:49 - (Doug Jenkins): So quick question for you. As I got a call from my daughter as we're recording this, it made me think and this will help people get around downtown on Saturday. I don't know if it's been brought to your attention, but there are three homecomings going on this Saturday. Downtown Findlay is usually a pretty big location for homecoming pictures. So will my now when this podcast goes up, 16 year old daughter be able to get homecoming pictures downtown? That's. That's an important question.

0:12:18 - (Sarah Foltz): That is actually a very common thing. There usually are multiple homecomings taking place during Oktoberfest and it is really cool honestly to see a number of students getting their photos taken downtown. So we work really hard to make sure all the sidewalks are left open so that you can still access the little alleyways and the cute areas, our festivals primarily on main street, but the sidewalks are all open, so there's a couple little areas.

0:12:46 - (Sarah Foltz): For example, the festival does utilize the front of the courthouse. We have had students ask if they could pop in real quick to get a photo in front of the courthouse. We do welcome that. So it is still possible. And then we always hope that, hey, while your your kiddos are off at homecoming, maybe the parents can come out too.

0:13:04 - (Doug Jenkins): That's what I'm trying to do this year. Obviously you've mentioned sponsors and everything like that. At a festival like this doesn't happen without an army of volunteers. Are there still opportunities to get invol if somebody wants to to get downtown and help out with it?

0:13:18 - (Sarah Foltz): Yes, it takes a village. We take over 100 volunteers because the way it works, to be able to do a festival like this and make it a fundraiser for a nonprofit, you have to have by law volunteers pouring the beverages, checking IDs at the gate, taking admission. We do sell drink tickets to make things run smoother. So all, every step of the way from setup to tear down to all the little transactions and things that have to get done during the event are all volunteer driven.

0:13:51 - (Sarah Foltz): So we split it into shifts so that people can still volunteer and enjoy the event. Naturally, when we get down to the wire, we're looking for people to fill in the third shift of the event, which is 7:30 to the end. So 7, usually 7:30 to 10, 10:30. Because it makes sense. You sign up, you're thinking, okay, when you sign up, you get a free T shirt and you get free admission to the event. So it makes sense to kind of sign up for an earlier shift and then enjoy the rest.

0:14:20 - (Sarah Foltz): However, no one is going to enjoy the rest of the event if we don't have volunteers to help continue to serve the beverages in the third shift. So we are still looking for people who are like, hey, you know what, I want to hang out, I want to engage with the public, have a great time and I want to make a bigger impact while I'm doing it. And so we're hoping that we can get a few more folks to sign up and help us in that way.

0:14:42 - (Sarah Foltz): If they are interested, they can go right to the Oktoberfestfinlay.com website and sign up for what their desired shift is. It doesn't require any experience. We provide all of the information and then it does allow you to play. And seriously, when you think, if you ever think to yourself, oh, I'm just one person, it's not going to make a difference. It could be the matter of keeping that admissions gate open or not, or keeping that one beverage tent open or not, because we can't do it without you. So we do hope that people consider being a part. And then it also allows us to put our best foot forward and show everyone who comes to Oktoberfest that, hey, we have a great community event here. It always has been great. We want to make sure it stays that way and we're super hospitable and able to, you know, accommodate everyone that comes.

0:15:30 - (Doug Jenkins): It's an exciting event. We appreciate you coming on to talk to us about that. We're really happy to have you on board here at the Alliance. Thanks for joining us today.

0:15:38 - (Sarah Foltz): Thank you. I appreciate it.

0:15:40 - (Doug Jenkins): We're really excited to have Sarah on board here. I'm really excited to see where she goes with the leadership programs and how they do under her guidance. Obviously, they're very robust programs to begin with, and now having a dedicated staff member to really help even expand those further, I think that's going to be awesome for the community. Speaking of the community, taking part in community events, that's one of the bigger questions that I get from area businesses when I talk to them. Especially new businesses coming into town or when there's new ownership, they want to get involved.

0:16:08 - (Doug Jenkins): That's the question I get. What are some events that I can be involved in? And, you know, we talk about the big ones, Balloonfest, we talk about Oktoberfest and different things like that. We're very, very blessed in the community to have businesses that want to support area events and want to have things for people to do. But it's important to encourage new businesses to take part in that as well so that we can continue to have these traditions going forward.

0:16:33 - (Doug Jenkins): So Sarah gave you a good breakdown of how you can get involved, and that's important to get involved. I'm always happy to connect you with area events and some of the different things we're doing at the Chamber as well. Well, that'll do it for this week's episode. Chamber Amplified is a free podcast for the community. Thanks to the investment from members of the Findlay Hancock County Chamber of Commerce.

0:16:53 - (Doug Jenkins): Because of our robust membership, we're able to focus on providing timely information to the Findlay and Hancock county business community run leadership programs for adults and teenagers and to be an advocate for the area. That's all while providing tools to help local businesses succeed. And if that sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, just let me know. And we can talk about how an investment in the Chamber not only strengthens your business, but the community as a whole. And of course, if you have ideas for topics you'd like to hear covered on future episodes, send me an email. Djenkinsindleyhancockchamber.com

0:17:24 - (Doug Jenkins): thanks again for listening, and we'll see you next time on Chamber Amplified. From the Findlay Hancock County Chamber of Commerce.