Hostings

🌽 DOWN ON THE FARM MUSIC FESTIVAL

Volunteer Staff Coordinator | Festival Operations

Serving on the festival leadership team, I coordinated volunteer operations, supervised front gate staff, and helped ensure smooth daily operations throughout the event. Working closely with festival leadership, volunteers, artists, vendors, and emergency personnel, I helped create an organized, welcoming experience for thousands of attendees.

As with Shoe Fest, I remained in this leadership role until relocating to Oregon, where I recruited, trained, and transitioned my successor to ensure continuity for future festivals.

Hostings

PROJECT SNAPSHOT

📅 Years2013–2016

📍 Location: Manhattan Illinois

👤 Role: Volunteer Staff Coordinator

🎪 Event Type: Multi-Day Music Festival

👥 Attendance800+ Attendees

🤝 Volunteers40+ Coordinated Annually

Laura's Responsibilities

✓ Volunteer Recruitment

✓ Volunteer Training

✓ Volunteer Scheduling

✓ Staff Supervision

✓ Front Gate Operations

✓ Attendee Check-In

✓ Staff Communication

✓ Artist & Vendor Support

✓ Festival Logistics

✓ Safety Coordination

✓ Emergency Personnel Coordination

✓ Operational Problem Solving

✓ Daily Operations Management

 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

 

⭐ Four Years of Festival Leadership

 

⭐ Supervised 40+ Volunteers Annually

 

⭐ Coordinated Front Gate Operations

 

⭐ Worked Alongside Emergency Personnel

 

⭐ Successfully Trained Successor Leadership

 

⭐ Helped Create a Safe & Welcoming Festival Experiences

HOW THIS EXPERIENCE SHAPES OUR WORK TODAY

Down on the Farm reinforced the importance of preparation, communication, and teamwork in creating successful events. Coordinating volunteers, managing front gate operations, and working alongside festival leadership strengthened my ability to solve problems quickly while maintaining a welcoming experience for attendees, artists, vendors, and staff.

Those experiences continue to shape the way Fourth Space Network approaches volunteer leadership, operational planning, and community-centered event production today.