Ride Operator and Concessions Employees

Work description

Employer and Business Operations Sun Valley Rides, LLC (Employer) operates a traveling carnival providing adult and children's amusement rides, games, food and confection concessions at fairs, festivals, and community events throughout the western United States. The Mattfeldt Family has been involved in the Outdoor Amusement Industry for over 40 years. We have operated a route that traditionally encompassed nine western states and some 65 events per year. Today, owner Steve Mattfeldt operates both Sun Valley Rides and the sister company Mattfeldt Equipment Company LLC , which plays a variety of smaller events primarily throughout the Southwest and into some western states. The Employer's 2027 route begins in Arizona, moves through New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming, and returns to Arizona for the fall season. (See attached 2027 Itinerary Worksheet and Carnival Contracts.) The operation is equipment- and labor-intensive. The Employer maintains tractors, employee vans, amusement ride trailers, concession units, generators, bunkhouses, and other support equipment that must be prepared, transported, set up, operated, dismantled, and moved from event to event. (See attached Equipment List - Sun Valley Rides and Inventory and Number of Workers Required.) Temporary Seasonal Need The Employer's need is seasonal. Its regular traveling carnival season is tied to the annual schedule of outdoor fairs, festivals, and community events. The requested employees are needed only for the recurring operating season and associated pre-season preparation. They will not become part of a continuing year-round workforce after the carnival season ends. (See attached 2027 Itinerary Worksheet). During the winter months, the carnival closes so that the owner and his family can rest for the upcoming year. This seasonality can be seen in the attached Payroll Hours Report 2024-2026, which shows the carnival operation increasing to a peak workforce of 42-50 seasonal positions during the summer months and then dropping to zero during December and January. (See attached Payroll Hours Report 2024-2026). The first public show is Cotton Days in Coolidge, Arizona, beginning February 4, followed by successive events through the St. Agnes Fall Fiesta in Phoenix on November 5. The schedule demonstrates a continuous, geographically moving carnival season rather than year-round operations at a permanent location. (See attached 2027 Itinerary Worksheet.) Requested Period of Need The requested period of January 15 through November 5, 2027 corresponds to the Employer's recurring and historical carnival season. Although the first scheduled public show begins February 4 in Coolidge, Arizona, the seasonal crew is required approximately two weeks before the first show to prepare the operation and equipment for the road. Beginning January 15, employees assist with cleaning, inspecting, assembling, preparing, loading, and readying rides, concessions, trailers, and support equipment before travel and setup at the first event. (See attached 2027 Itinerary Worksheet; Contracts Castle Amusement Shows in February; Equipment List - Sun Valley Rides; Inventory and Number of Workers Required.) During the season, employees repeat the cycle of setup, final preparation and inspection, operation, teardown, loading, and movement to the next event. The itinerary continues through November 5, when the final listed 2027 event concludes. After the final event, the recurring public carnival schedule ends and the Employer no longer requires the same seasonal Ride Operator and Concessions workforce. (See attached 2027 Itinerary Worksheet and Carnival Contracts.) Number of Workers Requested The Employer's current staffing analysis identifies 19 amusement rides, three concession units, and maintenance functions and calculates an ideal combined operational requirement of 62 workers when setup/takedown and operating needs are considered. In previous years, the carnival operation has offered from 42