Shoppers visit tables at a vendor show fundraiser held on April 30 at Memorial Hall.
A steady stream of area residents browsed displays of clothing to kitchenware at a fundraising vendor show sponsored by Rugby High School’s Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America chapter at Memorial Hall on April 30.
“It’s been pretty steady,” FCCLA Advisor Brittany Lovcik said. “We have a lot of school groups here. We have the FCCLA with a table and the FBLA and speech have a table.”
Mandy Kuhnhenn, mother to FCCLA member Ryli Kuhnhenn, who will attend the national conference in July in San Diego, organized the event. Mandy Kuhnhenn said she was glad to help.
“This is for the kids,” she said. “This helps support the FCCLA when they go to nationals.”
Ryli Kuhnhenn, who qualified for nationals with a gold medal at state in event management, will travel to nationals along with Haley Mayer, who took the silver medal at state for fashion construction.
Ryli and Mandy Kuhnhenn sold homemade scrunchie pony tail holders made by Ryli Kuhnhenn at their table.
Rugby’s Darryl Kuhnhenn Ride, a well-known local charity, also had a table at the event.
The Rugby High School Future Business Leaders of America also raised funds for a trip to its own national conference. Members of that group will head to the national conference in Chicago, which begins on June 24. Students Tambrey Brossart, Madeline Hurly, Olivia Belisle, and Hannah Musser will compete at the event.
More than 30 vendors set up tables on spots they rented to support the club.
Lovcik said the FCCLA would raise funds for its trip from space rentals, a $2 admission charge for those attending the show and concessions.
Tonia Dosch, another FCCLA member’s mom, donated 30% of the proceeds from her sales of Pampered Chef products to help fund the trip.
“I’m helping them get some sales and after this event, we’ll have a Pampered Chef party open (online) still to try to get some additional sales,” she said.
Dosch added, “I have a freshman daughter, Addison, who’s in the FCCLA.”
She said although her daughter hadn’t qualified this year for nationals, “She’s active in it and really enjoys the group. I thought this would be a good opportunity to help the group with their new chapter as well.”
Rugby’s Prairie Village Museum and the Pierce County Fair also had displays at the show. Shane Engeland, the museum’s new director, gave information on a new circus-themed display featuring items belonging to Clifford Thompson, called the “World’s Tallest Man.” Thompson’s size led him to roles in circuses and Hollywood films. Engeland said estimates of Thompson’s height ranged from seven and a half to eight feet.
The museum opens for the season on May 9.
Representatives from the Pierce County Fair gave information on upcoming musical acts and attractions for this year’s fair, which include carnival rides and a concert by Casey Donahew.
The Rugby High School speech team also had a table at the show. They sold toffee, espresso flavored dessert bars, and other treats.
Others present at the show included representatives from Village Arts and vendors selling everything from cosmetics and health and beauty items to Tupperware.
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