Owner Scott Rust and family donate 250 Blizzards which raise $806.85 for 2025 CHS Band and Swing Choir Florida performance
BY JIM BEERS, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – Scott Rust of Coulterville is the owner of the Chester Dairy Queen that is being built in Chester. His wife, Dani and two sons, Nolan and Nash, are already very interested in contributing to the community even though the new Chester business will not likely open until August.
Pictured (left to right) are Steve Colonel, CHS Band and Choral Director, Scott Rust, Chester Dairy Queen Owner, Nolan Rust (5-Year-old son), Dani Rust (Scott’s wife), Nash Rust (3-year-old son), and Sue Colonel, CGS Band Director. They were handing out delicious Dairy Queen Blizzards and Stars Tuesday June 13 to visitors at the new store location to benefit the Chester High School Music Department. Jim Beers Photo
Rust and his entire family came to Chester Tuesday June 13 to the site of where the new Dairy Queen is being built and brought with them 250 delicious Blizzards and roughly 30 stars. These were given away as a fund raiser for the Chester High School Band and Swing Choir.
While they lasted, the Blizzards and Stars were offered to Chester citizens for FREE. Most people, however, made a donation to the CHS Band and Swing Choir to help support their upcoming trip in 2025 to Disney World to perform in front of Disney fans. Prior to landing at Disney, the group will also perform aboard a cruise ship as feature entertainment.
A huge crowd waits for its turn to receive a FREE Dairy Queen Blizzard as new Chester Dairy Queen owners Scott and Dani Rust greet them and present a delicious treat Tuesday June 13. The event was a fundraiser for the Chester Hifgh School Band and Chorus to help sponsor the 2025 performance trip to Florida. After receiving the Blizzards guests had to opportunity to make a donation to the cause. A total of $806.85 was raised due to the gracious gesture from the soon-to-open Chester Dairy Queen. Jim Beers Photo
When asked how this fundraising event came about, Scott Rust said, “Our family loves getting involved in the communities in which we have Dairy Queens. We currently own the Dairy Queen in both Coulterville and Sparta and we are super excited about opening our third Dairy Queen in Chester.”
“I posted on Facebook that I was wanting to host another fundraiser for some organization in Chester and asked interested parties to contact me. Steve Colonel of the Chester High School Music Department was the first to call, so we coordinated the event.”
Trent Wagner of Chester receives one of the last Dairy Queen Blizzards of the 250 that were given away at the DQ Fundraiser for the Chester High School Music Department Tuesday June 13th. The event was coordinated and sponsored by Chester Dairy Queen owners Scott and Dani Rust. Shown here, Wagner gave a donation to CHS Band Director Steve Colonel. The event raised total of $806.85 for the 2025 CHS Band and Chorus Florida Trip which will feature a performance o a cruise ship and at Disney World. Jim Beers Photo
Rust has already given away FREE Blizzards in Chester twice, once to St. Mary’s School in Chester and the other to the “Tunnel-to-Tower” organization. The Chester Music Department was the third to host such an event and Rust has plans to host another in July for the St. John School in Chester.
Rust said, “I had a feeling that we would have a great night with this fundraiser, so I brought 250 Blizzards and some Dairy Queen Stars for the kids. This is the most Blizzards I have brought to a fundraiser so far.”
A crowd of approximately 22 people were in line well before 6:00 p.m. when the Dairy Queen fundraiser was to start. Cars lined the parking lot of the area in front of the new Chester Dairy Queen at about 5:15 p.mn. to be sure to get a tasty treat being offered for FREE being offered by Scott and Dani Rust, Owners. After receiving their FREE Blizzards or Stars guests could make a donation to the Chester High School Music Department to help sponsor the 2025 Band and Swing Choir trip to Florida where they will perform both on an ocean cruise ship and at Disney World. The event raised $806.85. Jim Beers Photo
The event was scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m., but cars were beginning to line up at roughly 5:15 p.m. By 6:00 p.m. when the event started, there was a line of approximately 22 people already waiting for their tasty treat!
Rust and his family appeared right before 6:00 p.m. and immediately began to unload two very full coolers of Blizzards and Stars. By start time, they were greeting guests with an icy-cold treat and huge smiles.
After helping their parents, Scott and Dani Rust, new Chester Dairy Queen Owners, pass out 250 DQ Blizzards and Stars Tuesday June 13, five-year-old Nolan Rust and three-year-old Nash Rust end the long evening enjoying an icy cold Star. The event was a fundraiser for the CHS Music Department and raised $806.85 for the 2025 CHS Band and Swing Choir trip to perform at Disney World and on a cruise ship. Jim Beers Photo
Helping Owner Scott Rust was his wife Dani and two young sons, Nolan (5) and Nash (3). All four spent about a solid hour handing out the Dairy Queen Blizzards. They even brought Stars for the little kids in attendance.
Also assisting with the event were Steve Colonel, CHS Band and Choir Director, and Sue Colonel, CGS Band Director. Co-Presidents of the Chester Music Patrons, Jim and Vicky Beers, were also on hand to help collect donations and take publicity photos.
Chester Dairy Queen owners, Scott and Dani Rust, sponsored a fundraiser for the Chester High School Band and Swing Choir Tuesday June 13. This event raised $806.85 for the CHS 2025 Florida Trip at which time they both will perform on a cruise ship and at Disney World. Shown here, the Rust’s sons Nolan and Nash attempt to deliver Blizzards to a drive-up customer. Five-Year Old Nolan is lifting his younger Three-Year-Old brother Nash in attempts to serve the Blizzards to the driver of the Jeep. Jim Beers Photo
Steve Colonel said, “Thank you so much to everyone who came out tonight to support the CHS Music Department. I want to especially thank the Chester Dairy Queen and Owner Scott Rust and his family for organizing his fundraiser.”
“These are truly good people, and we are lucky to have them opening shop here in Chester! The donations collected tonight totaled $806.85. Thanks again!!!”
Rust said, “We really want to become involved in the community of Chester. We have big plans for our new business and hope to be open by mid-august. This fundraiser raised the most money that has been raised with one of our events. We plan to stay busy in the community and hope to help others with similar events in the future.”