SAN BENITO — There weren’t a whole lot of “yeehas” yesterday afternoon, but everyone was dressed like a cowboy or cowgirl for a good cause.
The annual Western Days fundraiser for the San Benito Boys & Girls Club took place at the Fun N Sun RV Resort.
“The event is awesome,” said Tony Silvestro, park manager. “The planning put into this and the amount of people that put this together is phenomenal.”
Park residents rode into the event in their golf carts, on bikes and even in cars looking as though they were from the Wild West.
Those not wearing their western wear were thrown in jail.
Last year the event raised $3,400 for the Boys & Girls Club. Organizers were shooting for more this year.
“I think it’s a positive influence that we can have on our community in the South,” said Melody Kuehn, a park resident from South Dakota.
Kuehn said she was “arrested” twice at Western Days in the afternoon and had to pay double to get out the second time.
The all-day event had plenty of activities for the Winter Texans, including dancing, games and performances.
The event ended with a dinner and dance.
The park’s singles group organized the event. Western Days is an annual indoor activity that started prior to 1999.
The singles group meets regularly and is involved in other activities.
Their group is made up of park residents who have lost spouses, are divorced or never married.
Park residents Jacqueline Umholtz and Ken Blizzard were the deputy and sheriff for Western Days. They had already arrested close to 30 people at the event early in the afternoon.
All the money paid out for bail was part of the fundraiser.
Anne Montag from Montana made homemade jams and had them for sale to help the fundraiser.
“I’m having lots of fun,” Umholtz said.
