Fireworks a family business

Every year on July 4 the “bombs bursting in air” referred to by Francis Scott Keyes in what became the national anthem are recreated in stadiums, parks, over lakes and in backyards. For most people, shooting or watching fireworks displays probably has more to do with family and celebration than with patriotism.

The family reunion began for some fireworks sellers when the stands opened.

A 27-year veteran in the fireworks business, Roxanna Staats, her children, stepchildren, nephews and nieces spend a lot of time under a shade tree next to her stand just north of Pratt on U.S. 281.
They visit, the kids joke around and she usually reads two or three books in between waiting on customers. Nephew Garrett Hankins is taking vacation from his job at Dillons, and reported to the fireworks stand directly from a youth trip with his church.

The family will delay their own fireworks celebration until after July 5, her final day for the stand.
They may pack up and go to the lake, or back to the open area where the stand is, after the wheat has been cut and danger of fire is diminished.

The Fourth of July was her dad’s favorite holiday, Ginger Bowe recalled. It is one of the reasons she has continued operating Bowe Fireworks, which began at least 55 years ago. During Ginger Bowe’s 40-year tenure, she has kept a list of all the workers on a board inside the building. Her children come back every year to help and want their own children to be involved as well.

Bowe guesses she’s selling to the great-grandkids of her first customers. They reminisce, “I remember when I came up here...” One little girl always brought in a big bag of pennies she had saved. A local man, whose name is never revealed, gives her money each year to pay for fireworks for kids who can’t afford to buy them.

People spend small amounts of money to several hundreds of dollars. The little boys especially like firecrackers; the little girls go for the fountains and dads like the big stuff, Staats commented.
Mom may wait in the car. If several families are cooperating on a display, a competition could develop to see who can bring the best stuff.

Staats and Bowe agree that the economy affects sales, but neither would make predictions for this year.

“Sometimes when the economy is really, really bad they want to get back to family,” Bowe noted. “They may not be traveling, but staying home and spending more on celebrations.”

Kansas State University psychologists cite family and memories as one reason for the popularity of fireworks.

“Holidays, weddings and birthdays are occasions that tend to bring out the most traditional side of people,” Richard Harris said. “This is particularly true if people have strong memories of celebrating a holiday in a particular way in their childhood. People are strongly drawn to recreate that ‘safe’ childhood holiday activity.”

Without those memories, they may have little interest.

“For example, I grew up somewhere where individual fireworks were not allowed — or even available as far as I knew — so I never did that. I’ve always thought of them as dangerous and really didn’t want my kids to have them,” Harris said.

The element of danger may make them attractive to other people, according to Mary McCain, associate professor of psychology at KSU.

“Engaging in risky behaviors is very reinforcing for people,” Cain said. “For some, it can cause release of a chemical in the brain that helps people feel good. Dopamine is released when we engage in behaviors we enjoy, such as eating, drinking, sex, etc. Some people release dopamine when they engage in risky behaviors.”

Cain said another reason we enjoy fireworks might be because they are only available for a few days of the year.

“If people had daily access to them, most would begin to find them boring, but given that our access is restricted, we may enjoy them more,” she said.