Ranch Round Up is a celebration for the entire community
By John Gregory
The entire Scripps Ranch community is invited to attend the annual Ranch Round Up on the Jerabek Elementary campus on May 16 from 3:05 to 7 p.m. Activities will take place outside at the back of the school. Organizers view this celebration as the last big Scripps Ranch community celebration before the end of the school year and the start of summer.
The Round Up will include carnival games, pony rides, a petting zoo, jumpy houses, a musical cake walk, a student talent show, a silent auction for prize baskets from each class, teacher date tickets, and an antique truck for taking photos. Attendees can buy hot chow from the live barbecue grill stand run by teacher Elizabeth Kay and her volunteers, as always. Food vendors will also include Yogurt Heaven and Everbowl. A deejay will be there to spin the jams. In addition, a truck with arcade style basketball hoops will be on hand so visitors can show off their roundball shooting skills.
Jerabek Elementary School parents Molica Nuon and Devon DuBois are the co-chairs taking on the massive responsibilities of organizing and directing this year’s Round Up.
“People can expect to have a great time for the whole family. Even the littlest will be able to enjoy it,” Nuon said.
“What you can expect is to have memorable moments where you are able to connect with the community, with the teachers,” DuBois said. “There will be a lot of fun activities and also really good food.”
The Round Up always has its trademark western theme and visitors are encouraged to wear western garb to match the theme and to get into the spirit of the event, if they want.
“We all love a good costume. So, hopefully, everyone is onboard with a good theme,” DuBois said.
“It’s a tradition. It’s been going on for 45 years now. It’s just an honor to be part of the tradition and part of the community that’s so giving and caring. I used to go to it as a child,” she added.
The event’s atmosphere can be contagious.
“I just love the spirit of the Ranch Round Up – how it is all about the kids and all about having fun. It is such a great community event,” Nuon said. “I was so captivated by all the excitement and all the things that the kids could be involved in. … I just wanted to be a part of it. I believe it’s my favorite part of the whole year.”
Planning and directing such a huge event involves hours and hours of focus and dedication.
“We love the challenge. … We’re very excited to bring a very action-packed, fun-filled event for the kids to remember,” Nuon said. “It will be such a great day for us because all our hard work and planning will come to fruition. It will be so much fun to enjoy.”
The Round Up brings up fond memories for DuBois since she experienced it as student at Jerabek Elementary years ago. So, she is especially inspired to be involved with its planning this year.
“This feels like a blast from my past. It’s very nostalgic for me to not only be attending this event, but to be help-ing Molica to plan it and organize it,” DuBois said.
“We definitely spend hours each week. … The leading up to it, the planning is just part of hosting a great event. Attacking it little by little and getting in touch with all the partners, all the committee members – it takes a village, truly,” she added. “The day of – I think we intend to get there maybe at 6 a.m. or as soon as we can get on campus. We’ll be there all day until cleanup.”
Presale of tickets for the many activities will run through May 9. Attendees may get tickets now to beat the lines. Purchase presale tickets by visiting jerabekffo.org/events/ranch-roundup.