Freedom Fest honors 900 local service members with food, games and $25,000 in giveaways

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, City of St. Joseph and St. Joseph Community Alliance came together Saturday to celebrate the men and women of local armed forces with Freedom Fest at the Civic Arena.

The event fed and entertained 900 members of the 139th Airlift Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard and the 35th Infantry Division of the Missouri Army National Guard, offering food trucks, specialty food vendors, community resource groups, games and more than $25,000 in giveaways, all donated by local businesses at no cost to service members.

"Freedom Fest is our community's opportunity to give something back to our service members," said Natalie Hawn, President and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. "Members of the business community have come together to sponsor the event with monetary donations, as well as games and prizes."

The 139th is also celebrating 50 years of flying C-130 airplanes this year.

The event was the first of what organizers hope will become an annual tradition.

City Manager Mike Schumacher said the idea originated from an event done similar in Lebanon, Missouri, before bringing a version of it to St. Joseph.

"We got around the table with the Community Alliance and started working on what we could possibly do to show soldiers and airmen from the 35th and 139th how much we appreciate their service and how happy we are that they're here in St. Joseph," Schumacher said.

Hawn noted the local military presence is a major economic driver for the region.

"The 1/39 Airlift Wing here in St. Joseph is the fourth largest employer in our community, and they bring a huge amount of economic impact in every guard weekend," she said. "We also have the 35th here in St. Joseph as well. So the amount of military in our economy is a big deal."

The $25,000 in raffle and drawing prizes, more than 80 items in all, were entirely donated, ranging from contributions by small local businesses to large retailers.

One business owner contributed about $1,000 in prizes alone, Hawn said.

"It's so nice to show up, to just show appreciation for a group of folks that are truly trying to make our community safe, our state safe and our country safe," Hawn said. "It gets to be controversial in today's world, and this is one thing that we can just come together and show appreciation and love for people who are trying to do great things for our community."

Texas Roadhouse was among the businesses on hand, offering meat sticks, steak sauce, steak seasoning, beef jerky, peanuts and flavored lemonade, along with a prize wheel featuring coupons for free appetizers and kids meals.

Jace, a Texas Roadhouse employee who comes from a military family, said volunteering carried personal meaning.

"I've been around it my whole life," Jace said. "I definitely feel protected here in St. Joe. And it's nice that I get to give back to those who are protecting us, not just me, but also our company as a whole."

For Weston Baker, a member of the 139th Airlift Wing who attended Missouri Western and joined the unit two years ago, the event marked his first experience with a community appreciation gathering of this kind.

"I love the community. I love being in a place where we can do this and that the community does kind of rally around us, and I just appreciate that so much," Baker said. "Being previous active duty, I really appreciate the idea of these things."

Hawn said the goal is to grow the event in future years, eventually inviting military families and expanding it into a broader community event.

For now, she encouraged residents to follow the Chamber and City's social media for information on upcoming events, including a civic leadership academy later in September that will offer the community a chance to learn more about the 139th.

Schumacher said the success of the inaugural event speaks to what St. Joseph can accomplish when partners work together.

"None of these things will happen and be successful without the support of our partners and having everyone working together towards one common goal," he said. "And when that happens, that's when you have events like this."

Joining the activities was KC Wolf and Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders, as well as a local band.