Volunteers keep San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo going

Rodeo has about 6,000 volunteers

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo runs on cowboys, cowgirls, food, family fun, entertainers and volunteers. In fact, the chances of it running the rodeo at all without volunteers is very difficult.

The 18 days of rodeo will be the home to some 6,000 volunteers. At the Van De Walle Farms Fajita Corral, the volunteers cook, prepare and then sell some the best tasting food on the grounds — beef and chicken fajitas.

"They help us by making sure we can get the product ready and get it ready for the customers who give us the money for the scholarships," said Bobbie Britton, shift coordinator.

The Fajita Corral has raised more than $3 million since the Van De Walles set up their first tent in 1986.

"We get to work together. These are very nice people that we are working for, and it's something that benefits the community," said Sandy Bretzke, who has been volunteering for the Van De Walles for several years.

"It gets bigger and bigger every year. We have more and more people that are volunteering," Bretzke said.

The volunteers come as individuals or teams from different companies across the city.

"It's rewarding because even though we have members and people have jobs, these people come out during work. They get credit for that work," Britton said.

But it is not all work.

"They have fun out here," Britton said.

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About the Author:

David Sears, a native San Antonian, has been at KSAT for more than 20 years.