FARMINGTON -- Farmington's first director for its sports complex and summer ball program will leave at the end of the month to further her education at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Jenna Swain of Prairie Grove was hired in September 2011 as facilities manager for Farmington's new sports complex and program coordinator. Her main duties were to oversee the summer ball program, manage and maintain a new six-field ball facility and develop rules and regulations for the new complex.
"To build a program from the ground up takes a special person," Mayor Ernie Penn said in presenting a plaque of appreciation to Swain at last week's City Council meeting.
A committee interviewed several good candidates for the new position but Penn said most probably did not realize the labor that would be involved in managing the facility.
Penn noted the position is not an 8 to 5 job, requires working nights, weekend ball tournaments and being on call. Another part of the job, he said, is dealing with coaches and parents.
"We're going to miss her. She'll be hard to replace."
Swain's plaque recognizes her timeless service and dedication to the city of Farmington.
It also says: "We value the leadership you showed in establishing our first City sponsored leagues and setting the foundation for the operation of our Sports Complex. Your efforts will never be forgotten."
For her part, Swain said most of the groundwork for the ballpark was set in place by a committee in charge of Farmington's summer ball program. Swain said changes made the past few years included moving T-ball games to the sports complex and starting a fall ball program.
On the average, about 500 kids participate each summer in Farmington's program.
The hardest part of the job, Swain said by email, was coming in as an outsider to a program that had a lot of successes in the past.
She added, "But I have made many lifelong friends from this whole experience."
The one thing she learned: "You can't please everyone, and you just have to make a decision and roll with it."
Swain will pursue a master's degree in sports business management at the University of Alabama. She has accepted a graduate assistant research position and will help with several research projects over the next year.
Swain said she was interested in the Alabama program because of its rich history in sports and dedicated staff.
Misty Wilson has been hired to replace Swain and started working part-time with Swain in March. She will assume the full-time position Aug. 1.
Wilson has served as coordinator for Greenland's summer ball program and is president of the Washington County Civic League of Northwest Arkansas.
Penn said Wilson began working part-time to help ensure a smooth transition when Swain leaves. Wilson also has experience with the summer ball program and knows the coaches in Farmington, he said.
General News on 07/19/2017