An attorney by day, Erin Wiseman has been troubleshooting and keeping logistics on track at the Jefferson City Jaycees Cole County Fair each night this week.
The local chapter's president, Wiseman also serves as the administrative assistant to the fair committee chairman.
She began her Junior Chamber of Commerce volunteering as child with her father through his club in Shelby County. In December 2007, she became a member herself.
"I've known volunteerism my whole life," she said.
Her first Cole County Fair, she was "slinging beer" at the Oasis, where many of the newest members spend their early volunteer years. And it's also where Jaycees leaders soon discovered she had a knack for logistics.
Within a few years, Wiseman was the assistant arena chairman where her role largely was "arena mom," she said. She kept track of volunteers and positions to be filled, while keeping them fed and in good spirits. And among the arena competitors she sometimes had to diffuse situations before they turned into fights.
"I did a lot of finger-wagging," she said. "I'm a bossy, older sister; I'm good at telling people what to do."
She served a year as the volunteer coordinator, again keeping volunteer slots filled either with recruits or stepping in herself.
The last two years she has served as administrative assistant to the fair committee chairman. In advance of this week, Wiseman coordinated with vendors and exhibitors, dealt with media and marketing, updated social media and did a lot of troubleshooting.
Wiseman has even been on trash and toilet duty.
"It doesn't really bother me," she said. "I have fun wherever I work."
But as chapter president, she's also in demand to "kiss babies and shake hands," doing a lot of public thank yous and promotions this year.
"I can't do it all; we have a lot of great people," Wiseman said. "This only looks good because of everybody else here."
When her term as chapter president is through, she'll be eligible to volunteer at the Past President's Food Stand.
"It's where you graduate to," Wiseman said.
One fair volunteer role she hasn't held deals with the entertainers. In fact, last year was the first time she was able to stop long enough to enjoy part of a concert, she said.
Entertainment volunteers often have to take a week's vacation to work the fair. They are required to be at the fairgrounds when the band's buses arrive and stay until they roll out after the show, said past president Emily Mueller. They're often running errands, from tracking down specialty meals to setting up tee times or fishing outings.
Similarly, the arena volunteers may stay until sunrise setting up the location for the next night's events, Wiseman said.
This week, Wiseman has walked more than five miles a night, dealt with unpleasant situations, addressed complaints, kept up with Facebook posts, and, most importantly, taken time to thank the hundreds of people doing their part to make the fair a success.
"She's an excellent leader; she's really proven herself," Mueller said.
The fair is the organization's largest event, lasting six full days, covering 50 acres and requiring 10 months of planning. The Junior Chamber's 120 members benefit from many local businesses and organizations as they provide what up to 25,000 visitors may see in a week's time.
"Our goal is for the public to come and not know how much effort went into it," Mueller said.
Being the last week of July, the fair week traditionally is hot and the volunteers put in long hours. Yet, the Jaycees continue to make the event work.
"We're all in it together," Wiseman said.
Mueller agreed.
"What keeps you going is you would never want to let anyone down."