Photo by Wanda Hanson
One of the gas pumps at Pam’s Corner has a new look; the familiar R-P Trojan green and gold now covers the pump. A sign at the top of the pump explains a new promotion. Five cents for each gallon of gas sold at that pump will be given to the R-P Booster Club. On Trojan Tuesdays, the donation increases to ten cents for each gallon.
When the R-P Booster Club was brainstorming for a sustainable fundraiser, board member Tyler Peterson suggested such a promotion. Peterson is in the oil industry and was aware that similar programs had worked in other communities.
Wanting everyone to be on the same page, the R-P Booster Club board members collectively approached Jordan Brand to see if he was interested. Jordan enthusiastically agreed to the program.
Magnetic signage for the pump explaining the program was added to the pump right before the last big storm was to hit. The signs withstood high winds, record snowfall and blizzard-like conditions successfully.
Jordan reported that more people are using the Trojan pump than his other pumps and he’s noticed new people coming in to fill up at the pump. People are talking about the pump on FaceBook, encouraging others to use it. Jordan said he’d had people asking about the program at youth bowling and at the grocery store.
According to Jordan, he did this to help the community and R-P Booster Club and to promote his own business as well. Customers are able to help the community and Rushford-Peterson at no expense. Any other coupons or offers are honored at the Trojan pump just as they are at the other pumps. Tyler Peterson commented, “It’s a simple, visible way to give back with no additional expense to the customer.”
Some people have wondered just where the money donated to the booster club goes. According to Kelsy Anderson, the booster club helps fund athletics and activities at the school as well as programs around the community, city and county. It supports Christmas in Fillmore County, the summer music series, RASA, summer reading at the library, the senior class trip, post prom and community art programs. In addition, the booster club sponsors senior scholarships.
The R-P Booster Club was started in 1992. Currently, there are 141 memberships which include individuals, families and businesses. Board officers include Kyle Colbenson, president; Kelsy Anderson, vice president; Kelle Dencker, secretary; Jen Servais, treasurer; and Tim Hoheisel, Kayla Volkman and Tyler Peterson, directors.
Other fundraisers for the booster club throughout the year are a pork feed in the fall at a football game, and shared gambling proceeds from Nordic Lanes and Shawnee’s.
Kelsy Anderson feels that what makes the R-P Booster Club succeed is the wide variety of things to which it contributes. It’s not just supporting athletics and school activities. At their public meetings, the booster club goes over requests. Everybody that does extracurriculars can submit requests through the superintendent or activities director. In attendance at the meetings are the board, superintendent, athletic director and community education director.
Jordan Brand shared some of the other promotions he has going on at Pam’s. In another collaboration with the school, he sponsors a five cent a gallon coupon in the football fundraiser coupon books. In addition, fuel customers can collect stamps on a Fill-er-up card and receive a free pizza with every 20 stamps.
The Brand family has owned Pam’s since 2005 when Pam bought the business; Jordan purchased the business in May 2025. Pam still owns the liquor stores in Harmony and Rushford which were opened in July 2018.
As Tyler Peterson put it, “The hope is that the business benefits as well as helping the school!” Peterson encourages the citizens of the area, “Fill up at that pump when you can! Go, Trojans!” The entire R-P Booster Club board shared that they are extremely grateful to Jordan for this win-win collaboration!
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