Tom Thumb, or H-E-B, is one of many places to find a Turkey before Thanksgiving, but that's not the only place. One unexpected place is an
elementary school, but at Clint Q. Smith Elementary's second annual 'Turkey Trot,' there were Turkeys for the taking and a whole lot of fun to be had. Smith students had a blast the Friday before Thanksgiving break, with the chance to win exciting prizes like gift cards, tasty pies, and the grand prize: a Thanksgiving turkey for some lucky students and their families.
Students lapped around a track, ran races, and participated in drawings. Parents were allowed to cheer their children on during races. The event culminated in the efforts of the Runner's Club, a group of students who regularly participate in running activities.
"Well, we have a Runner's Club. So, I was trying to think of a way to encourage them and motivate them to, you know, join the Runner's Club and give those participants something to work for, but also just kind of help their community in the schools," explained Smith Elementary Coach Emmy Klein.
Running and playing games with the goal of winning holiday food items encourages students to have a goal in mind as they compete. Klein had heard of other schools doing Turkey Trots and wanted to bring the tradition to Smith. All students could participate in the event, which included games and concessions. The Turkey Trot replaced P.E. Class and Music.
All week long, our students trained like mini-Olympians, demonstrating their dedication and commitment. Instead of a gold medal, they received a turkey as a prize. 'They worked on goal setting, learning fitness can be fun,' said Klein. 'We've been practicing throughout the week.'
'We were able to get donations of turkeys from different businesses in the community.' This support from our local businesses, including H-E-B, Smith PTO, And WCD Enterprises, LLC, a commercial janitorial and landscaping company, was instrumental in making this event a success. Twelve turkeys in total were donated and given away, a true testament to our community's spirit of giving.