Business & Tech
Wildwood Twins Learn On-the-Job Business Skills
Lafayette High teens operate the PM Barbecue booth at Wildwood Farmers' Market. "We didn't know that there even were any homeless people in Wildwood."
Ben and Sam Thomure's alarm clock goes off at 5 a.m. on Saturday mornings, and they have a full day of work ahead. This routine, a little different than most area teens, means that on Friday night, it's lights out at 10 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. Each Saturday this summer and fall, the 15-year-old Wildwood twins are operating the PM Barbecue booth at the . The boys just started back to school last week at , where they are both sophomores.
"I really like it," said Ben Thomure. "I think we're learning a lot about life, and careers, and what we can do later in on when we get jobs. We meet a lot of interesting people, too, and learn a lot from the customers. Last week a lady came and bought some food for a homeless person. We didn't know that there even were any homeless people in Wildwood."
With the help of their dad, Jim Thomure, the twins have learned how much meat to buy for the weekend, how to cook it and how to maintain safe temperatures in the roasters throughout the day.
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They sell pulled pork, ribs and barbecued chicken. The boys help to transport everything to the and set up the booth. They quickly caught on to booth operating procedures and use good salesmanship skills, greeting all potential customers with a big smile.
The Thomure family are good friends with PM Barbecue owners Mark Ruck and Paul Lamers. "PM Barbecue really got its start right here at the Wildwood Farmers' Market," said Jim Thomure.
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"They were here that first year and had a lot of success. Then last year, they also had a lot of success at the Wildwood . Now they have a restaurant in the Chesterfield Valley. Right from the beginning we've been involved with the business, and all of our kids have helped with it."
Thomure, an agent with an office in Wildwood, helps with the barbecue team when they compete.
The barbecue team is busy getting ready for the 7th annual . "We finished third last year," said Jim Thomure. "There are eight categories that we have to plan for. The barbecue bash is going to be held the last week end in September."