Recap: Rattlesnakes & Roots — A Wild Welcome to Altus

Recap: Rattlesnakes & Roots — A Wild Welcome to Altus

On April 21, 2025, the Committee of 100 hosted a one-of-a-kind welcome event at Hangar 36 to introduce newcomers to the heart and heritage of Southwest Oklahoma. Dubbed Rattlesnakes & Roots, this lively evening combined education, entertainment, and hometown hospitality to give our newest neighbors a warm—and slightly wild—Altus welcome.

From the moment the doors opened, the atmosphere was electric with excitement. Guests explored everything from John Deere tractors and a mini cotton gin to face painting, snow cones, and photo ops with the WOSC Rodeo Team. Families enjoyed walking tacos and hot dogs while learning about local wildlife during a live rattlesnake demonstration. This eye-opening exhibit helped guests understand the important role rattlesnakes play in our ecosystem and served as a fitting introduction to the regional tradition of the Mangum Rattlesnake Derby.

This event also marked the public debut of our Adopt an Airman program, an initiative inviting community members to support and befriend newly stationed airmen at Altus Air Force Base. Attendees were encouraged to learn more and consider signing up to help turn strangers into neighbors through meaningful connections.

We are incredibly grateful to our Committee of 100 members for making this evening possible, along with a few extra sponsors who stepped up to make the experience even better:

• Bar-S Foods – generously donated hot dogs for the crowd

• Friendship Inn Restaurant – provided support by offering food at cost
  
  Debbie Valerio - Donated Cowboy hats 
  
  WOSC rodeo team 

These partnerships reflect the spirit of Altus, where businesses, residents, and organizations come together to make our community a place where people feel at home.

Thank you to everyone who attended, participated, volunteered, and helped spread the word. Your involvement is what makes Altus a standout place to live, work, and serve.

Learn how to get involved with the Committee of 100 or the Adopt an Airman program