There’s more than one way to build a strong community.

Sometimes, it looks like a Minion-themed float rolling down the street. Sometimes, it’s 11 boats hitting the water on a beautiful Saturday morning. And sometimes, it’s a bunch of kids dropping carefully engineered egg contraptions in a parking lot – and hoping for the best.

This summer, Monument’s Brandenburg, Kentucky team has been busy doing all three.

From the Meade County Fair to the site’s annual Fishing Tournament to the Monument Curiosity Lab, employees and their families have been finding plenty of reasons to get together, have some fun and strengthen the connections that make Brandenburg feel like more than just a place to work.

“For us, that sense of community is incredibly important,” said Allie Greenwood, Process Technology Manager. “We want to walk the walk and talk the talk. That means building connections with each other, with our families, and with the community around us.”

Minions, Popsicles, and a Second-place Finish!

Brandenburg employees have participated in the Meade County Fair parade for years. But this year brought something new: a second-place finish.

And the team is pretty proud of it.

Approximately 40 Monument team members volunteered at the fair, including those who helped build and decorate a Minion-themed Monument float – inspired by this summer’s new Minions movie. Team members also staffed the Monument booth throughout the week, handing out popsicles, frisbees and collapsible fans, hosting a $500 gift-card raffle – and, most importantly, talking with neighbors.

“We hear from people who have lived here their whole lives but still don’t really know what we do,” said Alexandra Bledsoe, Production Manager. “The fair gives us an opportunity to change that – to talk about the products we make and where they end up, while getting to know people in the community.”

Visitors could also check out examples of end-use products and safety posters highlighting another important part of life at Monument.

And yes, the free popsicles were a hit, too!

Gone Fishing

The community-building continued at Monument’s eighth annual Fishing Tournament, held this year at Nolin Lake.

Eleven boats competed, with at least one Monument employee aboard each. Others came simply to enjoy the day, volunteer, cook hamburgers and hot dogs or help with the weigh-in, including one employee’s son who eagerly jumped in to lend a hand.

“The fishing tournament brings out a different mix of people, and that’s part of what makes it so much fun,” said Allie. “You get employees and families together outside of work, and those shared experiences help build relationships that carry back into the workplace.”

A new lake, great weather, and plenty of friendly competition made this year’s tournament one to remember.

Science Gets Messy at the Curiosity Lab

Then there was the Monument Curiosity Lab, now in its second year – and already growing.

Employees were invited to bring their families onto the Brandenburg property for six hands-on science stations. Kids dug for dinosaurs, watched Mentos-and-Coke reactions, experimented with liquid nitrogen, and used Starburst cups for a foam-growing exothermic reaction.

And then there was the undisputed crowd favorite: the egg drop.

Some experiments connect directly to the science behind Monument’s work. Others are simply designed to spark curiosity.

“The goal is to let kids have fun with science, as well as give them a chance to see where their parents or grandparents work,” Alexandra said. “The kids are our best volunteers. We joke that they’re our best team members!”

Building Community, Together

Behind all three activities is Monument’s Events Committee and the many employees who give their time to make each event happen.

For Tonya Jeffries, HR Manager, that investment is about more than the workplace. It's about strengthening the relationships that connect Monument Brandenburg and the local community.

“We want Monument Brandenburg to be a place where people can build a career, stay close to home, and continue strengthening our community,” she said. “Work brings us together every day, but experiences like these give us an opportunity to connect in a different way. Those shared moments help build relationships and reinforce the strong connections that extend beyond the workplace.”

And with the holidays approaching, the Events Committee already has more planned!

Because whether it’s a float, a fishing boat or a flying egg, every opportunity to show up together helps make the community – inside Monument and beyond its gates – stronger and more connected.