Reality Rally

(Pictured above: The Three Amigos, with Steve on far right)

Today’s “Up Close and Personal” interview features Steven Pickett, a member of “The Three Amigos” who has contributed to Reality Rally in many different ways.

Pickett lives in El Reno Oklahoma, the world’s largest onion-fried-burger capitol! He owns two businesses, Oklahoma Tool and Machine, which manufactures machine parts for corporations, and Plus Five Designs, a home décor company which uses spurs and horseshoes as inspiration. Or should we say, inSPURation! Pickett’s products can be found at inspurations.com, and have become a big part of Reality Rally itself.

Many products manufactured through Plus Five have appeared at Reality Rally. One, for example, a lampstand, resembles a lasso and was auctioned off to raise money for Michelle’s Place. Pickett also creates card holders for the reality stars. The holders showcase the stars’ names as they sign autographs. Each year, the card holders have a new, unique design.

“What we had in the past had a spur and a horseshoe on it which would hold their nametags. This year we sort of changed the design up a little bit since Gillian is doing the theme ‘Raider of the Lost Ark’. So what we’ve done this year is we’ve got a horseshoe now, but it’s going to have a cutout of the Ark of the Covenant on the back. Instead of it being the same every year, we like to change it up to follow the theme, so that we can make sure that everybody can distinguish from one year to the next,” Pickett said.

(Steve's cardholder design for 2016)

Since Reality Rally began, being involved with the fundraiser has always been something important to Pickett. He has won the Reality Rally race nearly every year with his team, who call themselves “The Three Amigos”.

“The things that Michelle’s Place does helping out with breast cancer is phenomenal. Everybody at some point in time is going to be touched by somebody being affected by breast cancer. This is just a small portion that we try to give back. We try to raise as much money as we can, because for us it is huge,” he said.

The competition at Reality Rally also provides a healthy impetus for Pickett’s enthusiasm.

“The reason why we started out being a part of Reality Rally is because of the challenge. John and Rick and I are very competitive. When asked if we wanted to be a part of it, we said, well sure we want to be a part of it! But now it’s expanded beyond the competitive part. Now not only are we competitive about it, but we aren’t just out there to raise money, we want to have other people see that this is a good cause,” he said.

Pickett’s favorite part about Reality Rally is the fun he and his friends have participating.

“The race itself is so much fun. To be running all the way through Downtown Temecula and to be doing all these crazy things you’d never believe is so much fun. I’ve been involved every year,” he said.

Pickett is also a co-founder of Durham Warriors Challenge, which John Vataha spoke of in his interview. Pickett and Vataha wanted to create the challenge for those who hadn’t yet made it on Survivor.

Being an avid Survivor-wannabe himself (applying nearly 75 times), Pickett understands the thrill that comes from these competitions. In fact, Pickett says he’s learned a lot about himself by applying for Survivor, allowing him to grow his friendships and confidence.

“I will continue to apply until the show completely goes off, because I love a challenge,” he said.

One of Pickett's Survivor application videos can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=JtVYgrswNdk .

And it’s his love for a challenge that has made Pickett such a joy to have at Reality Rally all these years!

Thank you, Steve, for your involvement and dedication.

See you at Reality Rally 2016!

-Taryn Murphy