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Church to host lunch for carnival employees
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SKYE POURNAZARI | THE FORUM
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Members of the First Christian Church plan to provide their annual meal for carnival workers setting up the rides in downtown Maryville during the Nodaway County Fair.
Sue Schenkel, a member of the outreach committee, told The Forum that even though the carnival provider has changed, the church finds it imperative within their mission to invite the workers to the community and help them feel welcome.
She explained that after calling the previous carnival’s owner Daniel Yarnell, she found Toby’s Carnival Company, Inc. had closed its gates and was no longer operating.
She said he was up in Michigan with his new business cutting down trees. Schenkel said she believed Yarnell’s carnival and others had closed their businesses due difficulties with the COVID-19 pandemic.
After that, she began a search to locate the carnival that plans to setup this year.
John Schenkel pours pancake batter while Shawn Mahoney and Caroline Pohren get ready for flipping duties during the fair at the First Christian Church in Maryville. Congregation members held an evening breakfast for carnival workers on the first day of set up for the 2018 Nodaway County Fair.
FORUM FILE PHOTO
“It took me a while to find them,” Schenkel said.
After several phone calls she was put in touch with Clint Payne, owner and operator of Fun Time Shows Amusement Carnival.
According to the carnival’s website, Payne is a third-generation amusement carnival based out of southeast Missouri. His grandparents Harold and Lorene Payne have been in the business since the 1970s.
In 1998, they sold the show to Payne’s parents, Kenny and Janet Payne, who operated it until Clint Payne purchased the business in 2008.
For four years leading up to this one, the church held a late night breakfast for workers who began set up late at night and worked through the night.
Sue Schenkel checks on the biscuits, making sure they don’t burn during the 2018 fair at the First Christian Church during the breakfast congregation members serve to workers fromToby’s Carnival.
FORUM FILE PHOTO
Schenkel said Payne has a different method of setting up. They plan to set up Wednesday morning, so Schenkel was told a lunch would probably work better than a breakfast for his crew.
“So instead of a night meal, we’ll be fixing lunch at 1 o’clock on Wednesday for them,” she said.
The lunch menu includes baked ham, barbecue beans, cheesy potatoes, hot rolls and a variety of salads and desserts.
She was told to expect between 25 and 30 people and possibly a couple children for the meal. This is very similar to the number previously fed during the event by church members.
Schenkel said church members kind of liked providing the meal late at night, but were happy to do something different.
“We’ll do whatever works for them,” she said. “This will be easier, I know that.”
Crew members of the Toby’s Carnival Company, Inc. have breakfast at the First Christian Church at the 2018 Nodaway County Fair. The church congregation has held the breakfast for three years and this year, will provide lunch to crews with Fun Time Shows carnival.
FORUM FILE PHOTO
