06/06/2026
The Professional Firefighters of Kokomo Local 396 would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the volunteers who helped work our booth at the 2026 Kokomo Strawberry Festival.
Because of your hard work and dedication, we were able to sell merchandise, promote upcoming fundraising events such as our Union Golf Outing and 9/11 Stair Climb, and educate citizens about how our fundraising efforts help support the Marty Meyers Scholarship Program for local high school graduates.
Throughout the festival, we had the opportunity to promote the fire service, answer questions from citizens of all ages, and share a glimpse of what it takes to serve our community. The training props were a huge hit, and both adults and children enjoyed testing themselves with our challenges.
The “20 in 20” Challenge brought out incredible enthusiasm and friendly competition. It was great to watch friends, families, and even complete strangers encourage one another to see just how fast and far they could go. The Stepper Challenge — “How High Can I Climb?” and “Never Stop Until I Reach the Top!” created plenty of excitement as participants pushed themselves to new heights. We are certain there were some sore legs the next day, and a lot of kids who slept very well that night!
While these challenges were fun, they also provided a small glimpse into the physical demands and training that firefighters undertake to be ready when our community calls for help.
A special thank you goes out to the six firefighter recruits who helped set up, worked the dunk tank, and got a firsthand look at what it means to serve their community. We would also like to recognize:
* Madison Dalton for selling merchandise like a champion.
* Nate Herr for hauling and setting up equipment.
* Derrek McKay for helping with equipment setup.
* Josh Schaeffer for helping with equipment setup.
* Kevin Baker for volunteering his time for the entire event.
* Jason Braden for volunteering his time for the entire event.
* Joshua Rodabaugh for volunteering his time for the entire event.
Most importantly, the members of Professional Firefighters of Kokomo Local 396 would like to say thank you to the citizens of Kokomo. Your continued support of our organization, our charitable efforts, and the fire service is greatly appreciated. Events like the Strawberry Festival remind us how fortunate we are to serve such a supportive and engaged community.
Thank you, Kokomo! We are proud to serve you!