THE TOAD APPRENTICE BECOMES THE TOAD MASTER
How one man became the talk of Toad Suck Daze
I still feel like an apprentice. With Jim and Woody still making their way out to the festival, I still get to watch and learn from the real masters.” — TOAD MASTER BRIAN RATLIFF
Each year, Toad Suck Daze draws tens of thousands of people to the downtown Conway area for fun, games and, of course, the toads.
At the very heart of this festival is one man, the Toad Master. This person takes on the responsibility and duty of promoting Toad Suck Daze and serving as spokesperson and master of ceremonies. Only a few have worn the coveted green jacket and top hat, and now Brian T. Ratliff (the “T” doesn’t stand for Toad Master, he maintains) serves in the position.
But what does it take to become the Toad Master? It takes strenuous training, exercise and dedication, he said.
“I really believe jumping rope as a child helped me to get where I am today,” he said. “Who am I kidding? It’s from eating the toad cookies from Julie’s Sweet Shoppe! And dancing! Doing the Toady-Woady prepares me physically, emotionally and spiritually for what lies ahead during the festival.”
To become Toad Master, Ratliff said he had to study at the webbed feet of two men, Jim Stone and Woody Cummins, the first two Toad Masters.
“First they were my principals, then my heroes,” he said. “I would love to be the kinds of Toad Masters that they were. They always looked like they were having so much fun; I knew it was something I wanted to do.”
Despite being the Toad Master for 18 years, Ratliff said he still pays attention to Stone and Cummins whenever they stop by the festival.
“I still feel like an apprentice,” he said. “With Jim and Woody still making their way out to the festival, I still get to watch and learn from the real masters.”
The uniform is a big part of being the Toad Master, Ratliff said. The bright-green jacket and top hat are easy to spot from quite a distance, and Ratliff said the outfit is one part Arnold Palmer and one part Frosty the Snowman.
“The green jacket represents the determination and effort it takes to pull off each festival and the top hat shows the magic that happens when it all comes together each year in May,” he said.
Ratliff said his favorite part of being Toad Master and Toad Suck Daze is getting to see all the people coming together and having fun that weekend.
“When you make it downtown to the festival, everyone is smiling and laughing, eating something on a stick and walking around with a crowd of friends and family,” he said. “Seeing all that take place in my hometown is toadally awesome!”
As for the challenges of being Toad Master, Ratliff said that just getting around the festival is the hardest part. Whether he is being stopped for a photo with a fan, grabbing a chicken-ona-stick or being asked why he’s dressed like a leprechaun, Ratliff said he enjoys getting to every part of the festival and all his fans.
To prepare for Toad Suck Daze each year, Ratliff said he usually starts jogging a few weeks before the festival just to get his legs back in shape for all the races.
“Then I FAST,” he said. “That means Find a Speedy Toad!”
When it comes to finding his own Toad Apprentice, Ratliff said he hasn’t found one yet, he’s found two.
“They’ve grown up in my house and love the festival as much as I do,” he said. “They’re my sons, Aidan and Colin. I think they would both make very good Toad Masters.