The annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival is one of the marquee events in Butler County, but it can’t go off without hundreds of volunteers working behind the scenes.

Festival organizer Patti Jo Lambert said she is short on volunteers for this year’s festival, which will run from June 12 to June 14 in Butler and Cooper’s Lake Campground in Worth Township.

Lambert is looking for more than 400 people to help run the festival, from working in the merchandise department to serving food or directing visitors.

Anyone who volunteers will receive a free T-shirt and two free admission tickets to the festival.

Any volunteer who owns a Jeep will also get free admission to several Jeep events.

The Jeep festival brings in nearly $2 million in economic impact to Butler County, Lambert said, but it’s an event that wouldn’t be possible without volunteers.

Volunteers will have to work in only four- to five-hour increments, while each volunteer will have a manager train them in their duties.

“We encourage people to grab some friends or family members to come out and volunteer,” Lambert said. “Maybe a local company wants to have their employees do some community service. We do our best to schedule everyone at the positions they want at the times they sign up for.”

Lambert said volunteer orientation will take place on June 11, the day before the festival starts, at Cooper’s Lake Campground.

She added anyone who signs up will receive their assignment by e-mail in mid-May.

Anyone interested in volunteering can visit the festival’s website at www.bantamjeepfestival.com.