The Watershed King

GEORGE — While Watershed Festival may be known for the big-name artists that hit the stage every year, one person you may not have heard about yet is the Watershed King.

Trevor Lee Mianecki, called the “Watershed King” by family and friends, was known for his love of Watershed and care he showed for others. 

“He loved Watershed and every year he would go shirtless and write ‘free hugs’ across his chest,” Trevor’s mother, Connie Mianecki, said.

He was a Shedder from the very first year Watershed was held and had a large group of friends he would meet up with. He would turn his truck bed into a pool for him and his friends to enjoy as they tried to stay cool. His mother said that each year, the number one thing he wanted for his birthday or Christmas was a ticket to Watershed. 

Trevor grew up in Royal City and loved country life — farming, riding dirt bikes and country music. He made sure to be at Watershed every year until his passing in 2017, just 22 years old.

Trevor tragically took his own life and his parents said they hope that anyone who is struggling will realize they are loved more than they know and will reach out for help.  

Now, his family and friends carry on his memory by attending Watershed wearing custom orange shirts that say “Free Hugs” across the front, and on the back his name, nickname — with a crown icon of course — and birth and death dates.

Cambree Harris Letkeman, a close friend of the Mianecki’s, designed the shirts and has been a big support to the family as they navigated losing Trevor.

Connie said that coming each year and wearing the shirts has been emotional in a way she never expected. Trevor’s tradition of giving out hugs has become even bigger than him.

“Sometimes we will have kids come up - like this one girl last year, I’ll never forget it she just came up and started crying,” Connie said. “She doesn’t know (Trevor), she just needed a hug.” 

Trevor’s father, Rick, added that wearing these shirts has also resulted in him and his wife meeting people who knew Trevor that they never knew did.

“Sometimes we run into people that we don’t even know that (say), ‘Hey I knew Trevor,’” Rick said.

“He knew everybody,” Connie added.

Connie and Rick explained that Trevor was a social butterfly and made it a point to get to know others and spend time with them. He made genuine connections with anyone he met and was always there to lend a helping hand to whoever needed it.

Connie remembers fondly the last Watershed she and her son attended before his passing. Chris Janson was performing and his song, "Buy Me a Boat," was one that Trevor and his mom would bond over. She said Trevor made it a point to come find her when Janson performed so they could share that time enjoying the concert together.

While Trevor may not be at Watershed to give out hugs anymore, his parents and close friends are and make sure his spirit of kindness and living life to the fullest lives on.

Rebecca Pettingill is a freelance writer and photographer based in Ephrata.

    Trevor was known for his kindness which included writing “Free Hugs” across his chest when he would attend Watershed Festival each year.
  

    Trevor’s family and friends carry on his memory by attending Watershed wearing custom orange shirts that say “Free Hugs”.