Hempfield Field Hockey Booster Club will host a chicken barbecue at Stauffers of Kissel Hill, 301 Rohrerstown Road, Lancaster, on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Full meals will include Peters' BBQ chicken, a baked potato, applesauce and a drink for a set price. Meals are able to be purchased on the day of the event, with cash or check payment preferred. Electronic payment will also be available.

The proceeds from the barbecue will directly support the team and its activities for the upcoming season. Over the past year, the booster club assisted players with attending multiple summer camps as they honed their field hockey skills, as well as helping with various team needs. "The school athletic fund assists with certain things, but the booster club does the rest," said Jen Landis, a member of the booster club.

The Hempfield field hockey program serves to enrich students' high school experience. Participants are coached on dedication, teamwork and sportsmanship, and the mission of the coaches is to procure a productive learning environment and improve the players' skill sets through the lens of field hockey. "I love watching the growth of athletes on the field and in school," said Landis. "The players don't know each other very well at the beginning of the season, but by the end they make connections naturally as a part of the team." The program also works to expand the field hockey community in the area, working with beginner players during the off season to connect current and future athletes.

Landis also noted that the Lancaster-Lebanon League is expanding field hockey to the youth level, and the first Hempfield youth field hockey team will debut in the fall for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. "The youth program is an extension of the work we've done over the years to grow field hockey," said Landis. "Our players help out with camps and the younger kids, and it's a nice way for them to give back to the community." When asked what the players' favorite aspect of the program is, Landis said, "I think it's two-fold: setting goals and achieving individual success as well as belonging to a team. A player might have a bad game, but if the team does well, it's a collective success."

The season will kick off with a match against East Pennsboro on Wednesday, Aug. 24, and a scrimmage will be held on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Hempfield High School quad, with four teams competing tournament-style. The first official game of the season will be against Manheim Central on Friday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m.