The Strength Behind
Amanda Hill should hate Mining Days. She should resent it with every fiber of its being. If she bristled every time the event even came up in conversation, I'd understand. But of course… She doesn't.
You see this year marks ten years of Mining Days returning. For Amanda that means ten years of planning and working all year. Ten years of “summer vacations” being a lot of downtown Frontenac at 5 am or 11 pm. Ten years of worrying. And please remember Amanda has three kids, all of which were very young when Mining Days began in 2016. So ten years of parenting during four days of chaos.
And the kick of it? Mining Days isn't even Amanda's project. It's her husband Brady’s. It's Brady who loves history so much that he and his bestie Seth dreamed up Heritage Hall. But it was Amanda and her kids helping to haul boxes every year to get it set up. Dozens and dozens of them. Every year. And thennnnn put it all back.
It was Amanda who chased little kids while Brady gave history bus tours. It was Amanda showing up with the dog so the kids could participate in the puppy races. Amanda helping and supporting Brady’s dream every step of the way, because she saw the vision of how important it could be for the town.
So… for ten years Amanda has given up a massive chunk of her life to see Mining Days and Heritage Hall happen.
This morning I was reminded that Mining Days is hardly the only project Amanda helps support.
When my Facebook dinged I wasn't surprised it was an invite from Amanda. This time for a chili feed at the school to raise funds for yet another amazing thing Frontenac does for its kids. Another Brady project that Amanda throws herself into.
Every kid in Frontenac gets an opportunity to be part of the spring break trip to Washington DC. This takes years of effort and fundraising for every single trip. Brady and Amanda have done this trip for years now. It changes a kid's life to go on these DC adventures, it really does. For many of these kids they've never even been out of the area, this trip is eye opening. Some learn to love big cities. Some learn why they don't. They visit everything from the White House to Gettysburg. It's amazing.
And of course… Amanda is right there. She's raising the money, working the events, rocking the support shirts, and helping parents understand how it all works.
All while being an amazing mom who is running from one kids event to the next. I should mention that Amanda has her own life, friends, career, ect. Yet she always seems to find time to support Frontenac, 100%.
There is no doubt that Brady Hill is one of the best. He's an outstanding example of what a Frontenac man should be. As smart as he is fun, as gentle as he is tough. No doubt Brady is a treasure. But, if we take a moment we realize that Brady couldn't be Brady, and do ALLLLL he's done without Amanda’s constant support.
Like Frontenac women have for generations Amanda does what needs done. She supports what she believes in, helps her family, and loves her community. All while asking for no credit.
Women like Amanda are why Frontenac has stayed a loving, kind, strong community that cares deeply about each other. They don't do it for the credit. They do it because they care. And we should celebrate them.
