🎓🎭🏞 Reunions, Rodeos & the Road to Back-to-School | What’s Up Big Rapids Ep. 31 (8-13-25)
It’s a packed week on What’s Up Big Rapids! Chris and Pat swap stories from their weekend adventures—🎓 awkward class reunions, 🎥 summer movie magic, 🎶 festival fun, and even a surprise trip to the E.R. (Pat’s OK!). We talk tie-dye, rodeos, upcoming 5Ks, and the 57th Annual Labor Day Festival.
Our special guest this week is Tim Haist, Superintendent of Big Rapids Public Schools, who joins us to talk about the upcoming school year, reopening schools, bus safety, job openings, the future of learning, and how Big Rapids is leveling the playing field for students. 📚🚌
From community events to conversations that matter, this week’s show is equal parts small-town charm and big ideas.
0:00 – Intro and welcome
1:50 – Weekend recap
2:10 – The awkward beauty of class reunions 🎓
3:50 – Summer movies are delivering 🍿
5:30 – Storms at the Hoxey Festival ⛈️
6:20 – Chris heads to Bellaire 🎶
6:50 – Tie Dye Festival Aug 22–23 🎨
8:15 – Pat lands in the E.R. (again) 🚑
9:22 – Tire recycling Aug 14 ♻️
10:40 – Angels of Action Giveaway Day Aug 15 🎁
11:35 – Rodeo on the Pond 2025 in Morley 🤠
14:10 – Chris can’t finish his chores 🛠️
14:50 – Pork for a Purpose Aug 23 (for two families) ❤️
16:41 – Church in the Park this week ⛪
17:45 – Res Run races this fall 🏃♂️
20:55 – 57th Annual Labor Day Festival 🎡
22:00 – Guest: Tim Haist, BRPS Superintendent 🎙️
24:45 – Outlook for the 2025–26 school year 📚
25:55 – Reopening Hillcrest & Eastwood 🏫
28:12 – Reflecting on 15 years of growth 📈
30:00 – Who’s moving to Big Rapids?
31:50 – First day of school Aug 21 📅
34:02 – The team behind the classrooms
34:40 – BR buses travel “to Florida” daily 🚌
36:35 – Bus safety & flashing lights 🚦
37:30 – Job openings in BRPS
39:00 – Leveling the education field in 2025
40:12 – Future of learning
43:10 – Spotting good vs. bad info (ChatGPT 5) 🤖
44:12 – How Tim got his start in education
45:26 – Why Big Rapids? ❤️
48:15 – Pat & Chris wish they were Cardinals 🐦
50:25 – Teachers build platforms for life
51:40 – Thanks to Tim Haist & Dom’s corrections
52:53 – Goodbyes & outro 👋
Big Rapids podcast, Tim Haist interview, Big Rapids Public Schools, BRPS Superintendent, back to school Big Rapids, Labor Day Festival Big Rapids, Angels of Action, Rodeo on the Pond, Tie Dye Festival Burley Park, Bellaire Michigan events, Big Rapids class reunion, Big Rapids events August 2025, Mecosta County news, What’s Up Big Rapids
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