The 2012 UFA Small Town Heroes contest has hit home — one of the top 10 nominees hails from the Rimbey area.
Erin Steeves grew up in Hoadley and attended high school in Rimbey.
It was co-worker Jeanine Went who nominated Steeves for the competition. “I was mostly just excited. A lot of the nominees are people who’ve done great things for their community,” Steeves said about making the top 10.
Steeves grew up in 4-H and now volunteers on show day and helps the contestants with their public speaking.
Since she was in Grade 10 Steeves has participated in community theatre groups. Her most recent stage performance was as Sarah in the Bane Buffoons Beau Jest performance.
Beau Jest helped fundraise money for the library, where Steeves spends much of her time working with the library’s children’s programs.
Steeves has been in so many Springdale Players performances she can’t recall them all.
Since 2010 Steeves has volunteered with the Rimbey fire department. She was approached by several members of the department but declined at first because she was too busy with different plays.
Once the plays were done Steeves knew she had the time so she volunteered without fear or hesitation. “There’s not really any reason to be scared. You trust the guys you’re working with.”
But all her volunteer work isn’t work to Steeves. “It’s just the way I was raised,” she said.
Although she’d be excited to win to Steeves the contest isn’t about winning.
“The Small Town Heroes isn’t really about me. Everything is for the community.” If she won the humble volunteer says it would just be the result of the community pulling together for themselves.
A UFA rally for the contest will be held at the Lions Park on Aug. 22 at 4 p.m. Ice cream and children’s games are included.
Voting and comments for the contest ends Aug. 31 at midnight.