Residents and neighbors gathered for a time-honored tradition this weekend in Marshall County, complete with games, gospel music and, of course, watermelon.
Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) hosted its 43rd annual Watermelon Bust Saturday at Marshall County High School, an event that brought hundreds from across the county to celebrate. The free event kicked off with free watermelon, fun and games for the kids and culminated with a concert courtesy of the Booth Brothers in the Kenneth Shadowen Performing Arts Center at the school.
It’s an all hands on deck situation for CFSB staff, though Marketing Director Jeremy Rose said it was as much fun for employees as it was for those who attended.
“We’re just so super excited that we get to host this each and every year,” Rose said. “We just truthfully want to thank our clients and our community for everything, because if it weren’t for them, we would not be able to do things like this. … Most every one of (employees) are here. We had some today that was at the Racer Hoopalooza; we had some today that was at the Marshall County Back-to-School Bash; we had some today that have been over at the Fancy Farm picnic; and then we’ve got them all here tonight. It’s been a busy, busy day for us, and this next week will be really busy with the start of school for everybody as well, but we love this time of year because it’s all exciting and fresh and new for everybody.”
Once a post-Fancy Farm event, the annual bust is traditionally held the first Saturday in August, though Rose said the event took its share of turns throughout the years before finding a home at MCHS. The additional space has worked well, he said, and those who hope to catch a quality concert couldn’t be in a better place.
“The first one was on the back parking lot of the original bank on Main Street (in Benton),” Rose said. “Then it went from there to (H.H.) Lovett Park, and from there it came out here to Carroll Traylor Stadium one year, and then we moved it into the gym. And then, due to a lot of these (musical) groups needing bigger and better equipment – to be able to actually get it in the building, this is so much easier for us to be able to do the load in, load out situation – so that’s one reason that we’ve moved in here. Plus, it’s a better sound. I mean, it’s what this facility is made for.
“Myrvin Mohler, I think this was part of his plan, and he kind of got things going with this,” Rose added. “Mr. (Frank) Nichols and Betsy (Flynn) were big into want to make sure it continued on, and so we’ve just tried to raise the level every year. While that we may have changed the way that it’s done – we used to have five and six groups; we would always try to get a national group in, but unfortunately we didn’t give them a whole lot of time to perform. So, we’ve tried to go a little bit different route and give them more of that opportunity to perform. Now they’re able to go up to two hours … for their show, and I think that helps them and it’s a little bit easier on the crowd.”
While it may seem flawless, it’s not an event that happens overnight. Rose said planning times vary, but it’s an intensive process, particularly when it comes to arranging talent for the evening. The Booth Brothers, for instance, were in the works for this year’s event since July 2016. Rose said, however, it was worth it to bring community together for a good time.
“I hope that folks get an uplifting message,” Rose said. “I hope that they get a message that maybe might help them in their life in some way. Our organization believes so heavily on what the lord has done for us, and we want to try to not only show that but give that back in some way. And I think the way that we try to do that, not only through the prayers we lead before any meeting that we have at the bank, but in ways like this where we can give back in wholesome entertainment for the entire family. And that’s really what I think this night is about.”
The tradition is one in which he, himself, has participated many times since his youth, so the tradition was one he was happy to help continue.
“It’s been one of those things I’ve been to a number of times before,” Rose said. “I came here to work, but being a Marshall Countian, I knew of the tradition and had been to it a number of times before. My dad working at the ambulance service, they used to do some T-shirts, they would give those to all the volunteers that came out from the ambulance service, the police department and everything as well. I had one of those from the time I was a little boy. I’ve been around this for a long time.”
The experience was new for others. CFSB newcomer Haley Adams, said she had been with the bank about four months. The turnout, she said, was greater than she had realized it would be.
“For my first time, I think it was awesome,” Adams said. “There’s a whole lot of people here. I was here early and people were already here. So, you know it’s a big deal.”
It was a first for Linda Prather, as well. Prather, a Marshall County resident, heard about the event while conducting business at the bank Friday and decided to bring her five grandchildren out to see what the hubbub was all about. She was glad she did.
“I thought it was something I could bring all five of them to and can afford to do it,” Prather said. “I like it. It’s fun, and they’re loving it.”
CFSB employs about 230 staff members across locations in Marshall, Calloway and McCracken counties. The financial institution has expanded in recent years and is presently constructing a facility in Mayfield, as well.