Laguna Hills, Calif. – Howdy partner, the Laguna Niguel Stake Hoedown sure was a charmer. Folks were treated to good grub and all the fixins, fancy treats, games for all ages, mechanical bull, dancin’, and a show!
Nearly 1,000 stake members, family, friends, neighbors and surrounding communities enjoyed the afternoon and evening Saturday (October 8) at the Laguna Hills Community Center park celebrating in clean old-fashioned fun.
Stake Activities Director, Kristen Kamerman reflected, “Everyone came together and helped to give us an opportunity to unite the stake, reach out into the community as a beacon and have the light of Christ.”
Party-goers were treated to Sweet Lou’s BBQ savory pulled pork and chicken sandwiches along with beautifully delicious cupcakes provided by event guests. There was plenty to wet your whistle during the warm evening with water, lemonade and quenching watermelon.
Wards (congregations) competed in a relay match-up racing wheelbarrows, potato sack hopping, rolling pumpkins and a three-legged race. The mechanical bull was in full-force for the entire evening while children and adults displayed their prowess on the metal stag.
“The Stake BBQ was so perfect. Raising our family here (in a “big city”) has its advantages, but I miss many of the things I did as a child in a small town. The BBQ had those same wonderful feelings ---a safe, fun environment where I felt part of an extraordinary gathering,” expressed Jami Ward, stake member.
The evening continued with entertainment on the greenbelt. The crowd got on their feet doing the hokey pokey, that heralded into line dancing lead by professional caller, Vickie Jackson. Children and adults alike enjoyed dancing the night away with tunes expertly spun by DJ, Bruce Chang.
Laguna Niguel Stake President, mechanical bull rider and line dancer Robert Davis remarked, “Absolute grand slam. This event appealed to everyone.”
“Everybody thought the afternoon was wonderful. The location allowed for several different activities to be ongoing at the same time. The children were considered in the activities and more than adequately entertained and provided for,” raved stake member Dean Owens.
Attendees were invited to contribute to a school-supplies donation drive that will benefit school children affected by the floods in Louisiana along with local outreach programs.
Missionaries, serving in the California Irvine Mission and assigned to the Laguna Niguel Stake, assisted in facilitating a service booth where guests had the opportunity to make sleeping mats for the homeless. The mats are woven together using plastic shopping bags to create a beautiful crocheted looking mat that can provide comfort and is easy to care for.
The night was capped off with a movie under the stars as giggles and laughs filled the park watching the computer-animated comedy, Barnyard.
Kamerman along with high councilor, Walt Hick, and their “dream team” presented the community and stake with an event to remember. Reah-Ann Nobleza, Scott Flora, Bruce Chang, Patty Mackin, Bryan Thacker, Paige Flora, Kristy Rich, Kimberly Pearson, Jeff McPherson, the Laguna Niguel Stake Presidency and their wives on food service, countless stake members with food donations and every participant at the Hoedown contributed to a spectacular and joyful evening.