Shining Star of Rochesterfest

Carole Brown has been celebrating the city for 15 years

By Katherine Shine

With “Shine On” as the 2007 theme, Rochesterfest will celebrate its 25th Anniversary in June. The timing could not be better for area residents to become acquainted with Carole Brown, the star who has been making Rochesterfest shine for the past 15 years. Brown has been the executive director of Rochesterfest since 1992. Some even say she “is” Rochesterfest. Brown, gracious and unpretentious, would prefer this story to be about the event, not about her. “Carole never wants the focus on her, but it’s about time it is,” says Ginger Holmes, Rochesterfest board member, who has known Brown since 1991. “She goes above and beyond what she needs to for Rochesterfest.

Carole is organized, meticulous, a good listener and lots of fun to be around.” Board member Ann Larson says Brown puts her heart and soul into the event. “Carole’s greatest strength is problem solving in any situation.” Brown grew up in Oconto, Wisc., 30 miles north of Green Bay. (“I’m a Packer’s fan!”) She was 7 when her father died from cancer, leaving her mother to raise three young children. “My mother is a strong woman, still vibrant and active at 86,” says Brown. “She taught me to be a strong woman.” Brown met her husband, Bob, in high school, when he was editor of the yearbook and she was one of his reporters. After graduating, she attended the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. They moved to Rochester in 1967 after spending their first married years in Montana.

Bob is his wife’s number one Rochesterfest volunteer. “He’s beer chair, helps with the lumberjack program, listens to me at home, and gives me lots of encouragement. I couldn’t do this without him.”

Growing a City Celebration When former mayor Chuck Hazama created Rochesterfest in 1983, it was meant to be a one-time celebration of the city’s 125th anniversary. Everyone had such a great time, however, it became an annual event. Brown got her start in organizing large events in 1989 when she was hired as office manager for the first Star of the North games held in Rochester. In 1992, she was the local director when the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games came to Rochester. Volunteers directed the Fest from 1983 through 1992. Celebration of the City, Inc., the event’s parent board, determined at that point that the event was too much work for people with other jobs. With her background, Brown was a natural to step in as the first salaried executive director for Rochesterfest 1993.

The planning for the next Rochestefest begins as soon as one ends. Thank- you letters are sent to everyone who participated; the board meets; a new chairperson is chosen; the past event is evaluated; new events are considered; past chairpersons are contacted; budgeting and fundraising begins; contracts are prepared and sent out; sponsors, businesses, and volunteers are contacted. “Rochesterfest is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit,” asserts Brown. “Most people think it is run by the City of Rochester. We can’t do it without them, but we are a non-profit organization. Basically, everyone involved is non-profit.”

Rochesterfest draws attendees from all of southeast Minnesota. Brown has received calls from as far away as Colorado, Florida, and Illinois wanting to know dates especially the date of Annual Midwestern Lumberjack Championships. This is Rochesterfest’s 12th year of lumberjack competition. It’s always the first weekend’s big event, with the parade and the street dance being held the second weekend. “The Lumberjack Championships are a great family event. Competitors come from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia the same people on Stihl Timber Sports Series on ESPN,” says Brown. “Competition is multi-generational with parents, grandparents and kids competing against each other. We have a number of events for women that have evolved over the years. We’re very proud that we’ve always paid the same prize money to women as to men. This is not the case in most shows.”

The Crazier the Better To say Brown simply likes her job is an understatement. She loves it, and her husband says she has the perfect disposition to pull it all together. “The best part is when Rochesterfest actually happens,” she says. “It’s busy, the phone’s ringing off the hook, and everyone wants a piece of you. I love that,” laughs Brown. “The crazier it is, the better I like it.” “I love that every year is different. I meet new people, though some volunteers go back years prior to my being involved. I like that everyone comes together for the good of the event. The attitude is we’ll all work hard and this will be a great deal.” Hundreds of volunteers from young kids to seniors participate. Brown is grateful for each and every one.