Royalty Pecan Farms is a family owned and operated pecan orchard just outside of College Station. They also offer the community a gift shop, an event venue, as well as a tourist attraction for visitors. The family that runs Royalty is very committed to the community surrounding the orchard and therefore offers fun, family friendly events such as Easter Egg Hunts! I had the privilege of meeting the owners and helping them put together the day's activities for the annual Easter Egg Hunt in April of 2015. As I arrived I met Rebekah Stallsworth, the Venue Manager. She put me to work placing eggs over the fields for the children's hunt. After this, I stayed and was able to interact with the children and their families as I helped with bunny-like arts and craft as well as face painting. Royalty Pecan Farms even took this year's hunt one step further by inviting the reptile petting zoo to this event. The kids were able to meet friendly turtles and lizards after getting their face painted and filling up their Easter baskets with candy-filled eggs. 

The best part of this event was meeting Rebekah! I was able to chat with her and she asked me to come back and help with a wedding that was happening in their beautiful backyard overlooking the fields next to the pecan orchard. Because of the connection I made with Rebekah, I really learned how important it is to get to know the people you are working with or volunteering with, because you never know what might come of that relationship. Royalty is a great example of how fun and successful a family owned and operated business can be, but also how crucial it is to investment the majority of your time into relationships and getting know people.