Jack Brooks is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Campo Verde for AZPreps365.com

The sun shines along the fence of the Campo Verde High School football field in Gilbert, casting rectangular shadows on the ground from community sponsorship signs. The fence reaches end-to-end of the bleachers, separating the fans from the track and football field.

Over 40 signs from local businesses hang one after the other, facing the parents and students supporting Campo Verde athletics. From roofing companies, to specific chain locations, such as a local Texas Roadhouse, to health clinics and more, companies up and down Gilbert have gotten involved with the nearby high school athletics scene.

Each sign is created by a vendor in exchange for their own sponsorship. Some of the signs include messages such as, “Proud sponsor of Coyotes’ Athletics,” or, “Let’s go Campo!” Regardless of the creative elements of each poster, every single one contributes to the Campo Verde Athletics Department.

Campo Verde Athletic Director Max Ragsdale says booster clubs retain the sponsorship money, putting 100 percent of it back into equipment, apparel, video needs and other necessities for the school’s teams.

Many of the sponsors are from parental support, with parents either being involved in these local businesses or having connections with them.

“We’re pretty blessed in the community,” Ragsdale said. “All our sports are blessed.”

One of the parents that has stepped in is Jeffrey Scott Blevins. Blevins is a part owner of Blevins Farms with his brother, and he is also the father of Coyotes’ flag football sophomore wide receiver and defensive back Oakley Dobratz-Blevins.

“I’m supporting the program as best as I can,” Blevins said. “It’s important to do so because the students need support to financially achieve their goals and continue to build their program. Sponsorship is a really amazing way to do that.”

In addition to parental support for the athletes, Ragsdale hopes that the students can give back to the sponsors.

“It takes a tribe to raise a kid, and [the sponsors are] just part of our tribe,” Ragsdale said. “Whether it’s a dentistry, whether it’s the fast food places they go to, whether it’s a pre-game meal, it just gets them locked in and hopefully it lets our boosters, parents, and kids, and student body know, ‘hey I saw that banner,’ or, ‘I heard the announcement at the game. Let’s go try that.’”

A location that Ragsdale and other members of the athletics department can hope fans attend is Sidewinder Subs, a local sandwich shop that sponsors the Coyotes. 

Kristi Simmes, the half-owner of the business, has already seen that community support.

“A lot of the parents and students actually come in to support us, so we just really want to give back,” Simmes said.

Simmes has gotten to know the Campo Verde community so well she is confident with her recommendation for newcomers to Sidewinder Subs.

“Most high school students would probably love ‘The Bomb,’” Simmes said. “It is our most popular sub, and when they all come in, that is the one the students do get.”

Simmes says that every customer they get is special, but that there’s something unique about connecting with Campo Verde.

“Being able to give to the high school and help those young kids in athletics, that’s a huge thing,” Simmes said. “They don’t always get the money that they need, so for us to be able to contribute in any way is very meaningful to us.”

Blevins said that what he thinks makes the Campo Verde community special is how family oriented they are, while giving lots of credit to the athletic director.

“Max Ragsdale is an exceptional athletic director, and the school is very welcoming, very kind, and I actually believe that it’s the best school in Gilbert,” Blevins said.

With every cent of the sponsorship money going back into the teams, every local business makes a difference. The success of the team comes from efforts on and off the field. Recently, Coyotes flag football just won its region for the second year in a row, going undefeated in 5A San Tan consecutively. The team also won its second state championship in three years.

“[The success is] awesome,” Simmes said. “It’s really cool to see. They put a lot of time and effort into that, so for any type of success, putting the work in, obviously it’s paying off.”

“It’s been extraordinary to have a group of ladies that have one common goal in mind: to win a championship,” Blevins said. “It’s been amazing, not only to be a parent, but just to sit back and be a fan.”