Every year, the end of the season draws near, and the big finales come up quicker than many realize. The race for the finals that all the contestants across all the associations are working towards, are also key milestones for the many personnel who travel the road and help make the events happen every single weekend. And just as for the contestants who qualify and get to compete at the finals, it can mean the world to every one of those individuals to get to work those events.

Often during the season many personnel, although technically “working” the events, do not end up taking much home besides the experience of helping put on a great event, maybe having expenses covered, and the social interactions. Many love what they do and choose to go down the road because of the memories they make. At the end of the day, though, they are hoping to make it to the big finales.

As a personnel, myself, I am fortunate to get to work some pretty neat events, and have gotten to know a wide variety of people across the organizations and committees that I am apart of. And I can say with complete certainty that I have never met anyone who does not have a dream of making it to the year end finals. Many may not speak this super loud, as many in this sport are very humble, and do not want to rely on politics to get them a spot – they want to earn it based off merit and skills. But there are some I have seen play the politics a lot.

As this season starts to be closer to the end than the midpoint, I thought it might be neat to write on this, and get everyone to think for a second, of all the people they see on a regular basis at events. As sometimes we all get in our life bubbles, and dont’ realize how we might affect others.

As the nominations and voting opportunities come out for a variety of associations for year end selections, on behalf of all personnel (pickup-men, timers, secretary’s, photographers, specialty acts, announcers, bullfighters, and many others) please, if you get the option to vote, take the couple of minutes it might take to vote for the personnel you trust to be there when the stakes are highest for you, not just those who buy you a beer, a picture, or briefly highlight you on socials, etc. Who do you truly want there when the stakes are highest? Your 3 minutes may mean the absolute world to someone who supports you in their actions every single weekend of the season. And if the one you might prefer is not on the list, maybe it’s worth a couple of minutes to ask why…. and get another brief perspective on this sport.

Safe travels and good luck to everyone on the last part of the season!

Chantelle