Jeff Riddle, chair of the physical education department, has the kind of comfortable friendliness about him that makes you feel like you’ve known him your whole life, even if you have only known him since August. Every year for the past 30 years, he and his wife, Julie, have hosted Fall Hay Day at their home. It has become one of CBC’s favorite traditions.
The tradition every year is for about 150 CBC students and staff make the drive to Greenbrier for an evening of s’mores, and bonfires, and hayrides and memories. There are now countless stories from generations of students that have attended Fall Hay Day. What began as a simple “hay ride” 30 years ago has become something your grandkids will see in pictures, and you’ll tell them of your memories of college.
During our interview, Mr. Riddle mentions how he believes traditions like these are important for CBC to have.
“I’ve always been a traditions guy,” he says. “If you look at any college or university that has a lengthy history, they’re still doing some of the same things that they did even 100 years ago.”
And while Fall Hay Day has become an important tradition for the school, it has also become an important tradition for his family.
If you were to sit in Mr. Riddle’s office, it would quickly become clear to you how important his family is to him. There are pictures everywhere of him and his wife, their kids and grandkids. With Fall Hay Day being hosted at their home, it has been a family affair through the years.
“The boys were very little when we started [Fall Hay Day]… and as they got into junior high and high school… they got to be a part,” he remembers.
Mr. Riddle begins preparing for Fall Hay Day about a month in advance.
“I love doing it,” he says. “I think it’s a wonderful thing… there’s a lot of preparation behind the scenes that always has to happen for it to be pulled off.”
On Thursday, Oct. 22 all of the preparation will be done, and students, no doubt neglecting their homework, will come by the dozens. And hopefully, you and I will be sitting by the fire, together, sharing a s’more and a story.
