High School Principle Full Time – Spring Time Snake Handler

During his first few years as the baseball coach for the Apache High School Warriors, Steven Base found himself preparing for one of Apache, Oklahoma’s largest events. The annual Apache Rattlesnake Festival began in 1984 and is celebrating their 39th anniversary this year. Mr. Base started his involvement in the festival by helping set up the snake pit in the building where snakes are handled for demonstrations. “I never in a million years thought that I’d be the one picking up and handling snakes now,” he said. After several years of assisting committee members like Ron Orf Sr., Mr. Base gained the confidence he needed to become one of the designated handlers for both the Snake Pit and the Butcher Shop.

What is the Rattlesnake Festival?

If you’ve never visited the rattlesnake festival, whether in Waurika, Apache, or Mangum, there are a few things you can always expect; the most important is that there will be, of course, snakes. But don’t let the thought scare you since there is almost always vendors, carnival rides, live music and performances from local entertainments acts like gymnastic teams, Native American dancers and more.

In the Apache Rattlesnake Festival, the committee members strive to make the event as educational and fun as possible. “We like to make it more about the safety at the Apache Rattlesnake Festival,” Mr. Base said. You’ll learn the information you need to stay safe if you ever encounter a rattlesnake in the wild, something that isn’t too far off from happening in Southwest Oklahoma. “We went just 12 miles outside of Apache to go hunting for snakes,” he said, “so it’s pretty much right in our backyard where you’ll find these guys.”

The Rattlesnake Festival Supports the Slick Hills Foundation

Apache, Oklahoma’s Slick Hills Foundation helps support the Apache community. Their largest fundraiser of the year is the Apache Rattlesnake Festival. Because of the success of the event, the Foundation is able to provide assistance for those in need in their community. They’re also able to help Apache’s growth and expansion by assisting with important projects for the community, schools, and more. To find out more information about the Slick Hills Foundation, visit their website. You can also catch another inside-scoop video about the Apache Rattlesnake Festival and one of their long-time committee members that recently stepped down here. Visit the rest of our website for more features: oklahomalife.tv.

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