A number of people ask when the planning starts for next year’s Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival.

The answer: It is a year-round effort by the festival committee that begins as soon as the current festival ends.

At meetings, committee members discuss aspects of the festival that went well and activities that could be changed or added for the following year based on feedback from volunteers, participants and attendees.

The committee has been able to grow it into a three-day event at Cooper’s Lake Campground with more than 20 activities and attractions for Jeep enthusiasts.

But the committee’s work doesn’t stop with planning because many of the members also volunteer and manage parts of the festival.

“I’m a Butler native and I own a Jeep,” said committee member Darlene Kaskie. “I volunteered to help with the Great Pit Out in 2012, and after attending one committee meeting in 2013, I got caught up in all of the excitement and decided to become a manager.”

The committee is always looking for people to be involved so the festival can continue to improve. The group meets bi-weekly in the fall and then meets monthly over the winter and spring.

“Jeep enthusiasm spreads like a virus,” said Sara DiBello. “I originally got involved with the festival through my position as communications and marketing coordinator at Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau.

“In 2011, I knew nothing about Jeeps. Now I’m a proud Jeep owner and love spending time volunteering on the committee.”

Committee member Wayne Kovac said, “I have made a lot of new friends through this event. We have a really great time working together.”

He has been on the committee since 2012 and manages several aspects of the event.

Owning a Jeep isn’t a requirement to be on the committee.

To be part of the committee, e-mail info@bantamjeepfestival.com.

Here are members of the 2014 festival committee:

Joyce Appel, Carrie Binsack, Ken Boring, Sheri Boring, Lee Bortmas, Bernie Caldwell, Jack Cohen, Tony Colangeli, and Pat Collins

Also, Alice Crider, Bill Crider, Jennifer Crider, Kevin Crider, Rick DiBello Sr., Rick DiBello Jr., Sara DiBello, Jim Donze, Walt Eggert, Tammy Foltz, Mark Gaydosh, and Cathy Gilliland

Also, Rich Grossman, Tina Grossman, Terry Hagen, Lynda Harrison, Darlene Kaskie, Wayne Kovac, Patti Jo Lambert, Adam Langer, Tom Lavorini, Mark Lebda, and John Malinski

Also, Ed Michael, Chuck Miller, Eileen Miller, Rob Morgan, Chad Morrison, Wes Notovitz, Sandy Olanyk, Jerry Oswald, Charles Pro, Chris Reidenbaugh, Bill Ringeisen and Marcia Ringeisen

Also, Ellen Roberts, Gloria Sabatelli, Rodney Schaffer, Dave Sears, Sammy Shuler, Dan Suess, Ed Wadding, Judy Wadding, Greg Walker, Jim Wehr, Christina Wright and Dave Zibrat.