ARCADIA – The 38th Annual Family Banquet, sponsored by the Arcadia Methodist Men, was held in Arcadia Public School’s New Gym on Saturday, March 25.
Rusty Kluender, Arcadia Public Schools principal, served as emcee, and Arcadia seniors Jestin Sears, son of Delta and Brian Sears, and Ty Greenland, son of Jolene and Michael Greenland, gave the invocation and benediction, respectively. A banner by Debbie Einspahr Miller provided a backdrop for the dais.
The banquet featured two speakers: area volleyball players Lauren Vandenberg and Grace Langemeier. A David City native and four-year letter winner and all-conference honoree, Vandenberg currently plays volleyball for the University of Nebraska Kearney.
Vandenberg spoke about her alienation from her friends, faith, and family during her college athletics journey, and her decision to transfer to Kearney in order to reengage with her faith and ultimately find a community by joining the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Langemeier, a Central City native and Nebraska Christian High School alum, is finishing her degree at UNK after playing volleyball at Dordt College in Sioux City, Iowa. She won first-team All-State her junior year and 2nd team All-State her senior year. Her team placed fourth at the state tournament her junior year and qualified for state her senior year.
She shared a similar story: she spoke about her wavering faith throughout her upbringing, finding an internship with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and through that community, she said, gaining personal and spiritual confidence, which she has gone on to share with her community’s youth.
Sheila Meyer and Skye Griess, known together as the Greenland Girls, provided musical entertainment for the banquet, with Andy Meyer running sound. The meal was provided by Whitefoot Catering of Boelus.
Bruce and Cindy Ash provided the tables, and Arcadia middle and high school students set and bussed the tables. Many of the attendees helped tidy up and break down after the banquet had concluded.
The Family Banquet was first held in 1986, known then as the “Father-Son Banquet.” Around 1988 the event became the “Father, Son, and Daughter Banquet” and finally, around 1990, the Family Banquet. Over the years, the Methodist Men have been able to bring the banquet a variety of speakers with different backgrounds, all with Christian values in common.
