Summer spruce-up
FDMS sixth-graders help prepare for Webster County fair
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson <br> Parker Schillerstrom, 11, a sixth-grader at Fort Dodge Middle School, gets just the right amount of paint on his paint brush during a community service project at the Webster County Fairgrounds Monday afternoon.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson <br> Jessica Martinez, 12, a sixth-grader at Fort Dodge Middle School, left, holds up her hands for a high-five Monday afternoon at the Webster County Fairgrounds. Mackenzie McIlrath, 12, also a sixth-grader, at right, appears skeptical of the potential high-five.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson <br> Malia Crouse, 12, a sixth-grader at Fort Dodge Middle School, adds some paint to one of the tires used for figure eight races at the Webster County Fairgrounds Monday afternoon.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson <br> Mackenzie McIlrath, 12, a sixth-grader at Fort Dodge Middle School, gets a little help filling her paint bucket from Amanda Becker, an insructional coach at FDMS, during a community service project at the Webster County Fairgrounds Monday afternoon.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson <br> Fort Dodge Middle School sixth-graders work on adding a coat of paint to a tire used for figure 8 races at the Webster County Fairgrounds Monday afternoon. From left to right: Carter Nekvinda, 12, Parker Schillerstrom, 11, Sydney Gabers, 11, and Mackenzie McIlrath, 12.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson <br> Sydney Gabers, 11, a sixth-grader at Fort Dodge Middle School, applies some paint to one of the tires used for figure 8 racing at the Webster County Fairgrounds Monday afternoon.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson <br> Parker Schillerstrom, 11, a sixth-grader at Fort Dodge Middle School, gets just the right amount of paint on his paint brush during a community service project at the Webster County Fairgrounds Monday afternoon.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson <br> Jessica Martinez, 12, a sixth-grader at Fort Dodge Middle School, left, holds up her hands for a high-five Monday afternoon at the Webster County Fairgrounds. Mackenzie McIlrath, 12, also a sixth-grader, at right, appears skeptical of the potential high-five.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson <br> Malia Crouse, 12, a sixth-grader at Fort Dodge Middle School, adds some paint to one of the tires used for figure eight races at the Webster County Fairgrounds Monday afternoon.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson <br> Mackenzie McIlrath, 12, a sixth-grader at Fort Dodge Middle School, gets a little help filling her paint bucket from Amanda Becker, an insructional coach at FDMS, during a community service project at the Webster County Fairgrounds Monday afternoon.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson <br> Fort Dodge Middle School sixth-graders work on adding a coat of paint to a tire used for figure 8 races at the Webster County Fairgrounds Monday afternoon. From left to right: Carter Nekvinda, 12, Parker Schillerstrom, 11, Sydney Gabers, 11, and Mackenzie McIlrath, 12.
-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson <br> Sydney Gabers, 11, a sixth-grader at Fort Dodge Middle School, applies some paint to one of the tires used for figure 8 racing at the Webster County Fairgrounds Monday afternoon.
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Sixth-graders from Fort Dodge Middle School helped prepare the Webster County Fairgrounds Monday afternoon for upcoming festivities to be held there as part of the fair.
Painting tires for figure 8 races and mulching trees were a couple of the tasks students completed as part of a community service project.
The students gathered near the main entrance of the fairgrounds to receive instructions on their work.
"Which ones do we get for painting?" Patty Strunk, a Webster County Fair Board member, asked.
Once a group of students were sent to the figure 8 track, the students split into teams.
"Four to a tire," Strunk said. "I got the brushes."
She gave the students a simple directive.
"You paint these all the way white," she said, pointing to large black tractor tires.
Malaki Pettigew, 12, shared a thought.
"The paint smells like the aquatic center," Pettigrew said.
As the students began painting, one discovered a creature crawling out of the tire.
"There's a spider on my brush," Carter Nekvinda, 12, said.
"Don't throw the spider at me," Sydney Gabers, 11, said.
Later, Mackenzie McIlrath, 12, ran her brush across one of the arachnids.
"I just painted a spider white," McIlrath said.
Students noticed each other's progress too.
"The other team is already on their second tire," Nekvinda said.
"I am just getting the top," McIlrath said.
Gabers didn't seem to think her painting skills were top-notch.
"They hired sixth-graders," Gabers said. "They should know it's not going to be the best."
Julia Hatcher, a reading and language arts teacher at FDMS, was happy with the efforts of students.
"It looks like they are doing really well," she said. "It's perfect out here."
Evan Pratt, 12, wore the proper attire to go to work.
"I am wearing the shoes I mow with," he said. "Didn't you guys get the memo?"
"These are my play shoes," Pettigrew said. "I wear my mom's lawn mowing shoes. Her feet fit my feet."
Pettigrew wondered if he might get paid for his work.
Hatcher reminded him the importance of volunteering.
"We are here for kindness and to volunteer," she said.