Hesston College had the pleasure of hosting a SOOP volunteer during July, now being recognized across the country and around the world as the hottest month on record. Our experience in south-central Kansas gave credence to that dubious reputation, notably because our volunteer spent most of his time outside.
Bob King came to us from Colorado Springs, where he lives in retirement with some family members after having been widowed for more than 10 years. He is a seasoned SOOPer, having served in two other locations prior to applying for an assignment at Hesston College. He describes himself as an arborist, which means he is “into trees” in a big way. That had special appeal because both on our main campus, and in the adjacent Dyck Arboretum of the Plains, we have many mature trees that are a treasure, but some of which were in need of some TLC that the permanent staff never have enough time to provide, much as they would like to. Bob proved his knowledge, skill and experience in his four weeks of diligent and unstinting labor.
Here is how Bob describes his experience: “I really enjoy the SOOP experience because it seems to be a good fit for me. I recently completed a four-week assignment in Hesston, Kansas, working for two weeks on campus grounds at the college, then for two weeks in the Dyck Arboretum. I was primarily given work relating to arboriculture, as I spent many years in the tree care industry. It was a real joy to be able to contribute in such a meaningful way. Not only did I enjoy the work, but I was able to make many new Christian friends during that time. The warm welcome I received was overwhelming to me. The folks in the Hesston community exceeded my expectations, and I truly will cherish this SOOP assignment. Perhaps I will serve another term there in the future, although it will likely be at a time when the weather is not so blazing hot. A big thanks to all who made this time a memorable one for me.”
Katie Schmidt, a horticulturist at the Arboretum, had this to say about Bob’s work: “Bob was a tremendous help here at the Arboretum. His many years of experience in the tree care industry were of great use, and it was apparent after the first day that he was a hard worker with a keen eye for tree shaping. He spent most of his time with us trimming up branches, and he even got to rope and saddle into a few of our taller pines. He has great vision when it comes to limbing projects; he knows shape and form, knows how to leave the tree looking healthy and natural. Bob worked like a madman every day, no matter the heat! He helped with some window washing and custodial duties around the Visitors Center, pulled weeds, cut saplings … whatever we asked him to do, he did it to the top notch! We would love to host Bob again if we could be so lucky, or any other SOOP volunteer who wants to help out. It was a great volunteer experience for us, and I’m glad he enjoyed his time in our community.”
Jim Mason, director of the College Facilities department, added his words: “Bob was a tremendous asset to our summer routine. A two-legged dynamo is the best description I can come up with. He willingly tackled with gusto any job we gave him, and also performed his work at a very high level, with great attention to detail. He particularly excelled in landscape and tree work – something we needed help with. [We] really appreciated his time with us, and would love to have an encore when school is in session!”
