Fayette County Fair board elections held at annual meeting
Bill Jackson, fair board president, is pictured just before the start of the recent meeting of the Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in Dunbar Township. Jackson was retained as well as four other incumbents during the meeting that included fair board elections. Rob Harper of Redstone Township was also elected, taking a seat held by Ed Stanish Jr. of South Union Township, who retired from the board after serving 18 years.
Members of the Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association recently returned to the Fayette County Fairgrounds in Dunbar Township for their annual meeting. Fair board elections were held and officials gave an overview of the 2017 fair. Bill Jackson, of Redstone Township, fair board president, said two to three nights of bad weather affected attendance but noted, "Financially, we're sound.''
Ed Stanish Jr., of South Union Township, right, pictured with his wife, Debbie, at the annual meeting of the Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association in Dunbar Township, is a long-time member of the Fayette County Fair board who recently retired from his position after serving 18 years. Both the Stanishes will continue to be active volunteers for the fair. Stanish said, "I’m going to miss it, but, like I told everybody, I’m not going away. I’ll be around.''
Ed Stanish Jr., of South Union Township, right, pictured with his wife, Debbie, at the annual meeting of the Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association in Dunbar Township, is a long-time member of the Fayette County Fair board of directors who recently retired from his position after serving 18 years. Both the Stanishes will continue to be active volunteers for the fair. Stanish said, "I’m going to miss it, but, like I told everybody, I’m not going away. I’ll be around.''
Rob Harper, of Redstone Township, (pictured with members of his family) was elected to the fair board at the recent annual meeting of the Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association in Dunbar Township, along with five incumbents, including Bill Jackson, of Redstone Township; Chris Piwowar Sr., of Franklin Township; Anthony Regula, of Brownfield; RaeLynn Regula, of Uniontown; and Linda Rooker of Smock. Harper previously served a term about 10 years ago. He commented, "I grew up with kids in 4-H and they are some of my best friends. It’s an honor and privilege to serve.'' Pictured are (from left): C.J. Diamond, of Smithfield, Harper's brother-in-law; Rob Harper; Harper Diamond, Harper's niece; and Corey Diamond, Harper's sister.
Frances Borsodi Zajac|Herald-Standard
Rob Harper of Redstone Township, (pictured with members of his family) was elected to the fair board at the recent annual meeting of the Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association in Dunbar Township, along with five incumbents, including Bill Jackson of Redstone Township; Chris Piwowar Sr. of Franklin Township; Anthony Regula of Brownfield; RaeLynn Regula of Uniontown; and Linda Rooker of Smock. Harper previously served a term about 10 years ago. He commented, “I grew up with kids in 4-H and they are some of my best friends. It’s an honor and privilege to serve.’’ Pictured are (from left): C.J. Diamond of Smithfield, Harper’s brother-in-law; Rob Harper; Harper Diamond, Harper’s niece; and Corey Diamond, Harper’s sister.
Fayette County Fair's 2017 royalty are pictured just before the start of the recent annual meeting of the Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in Dunbar Township. Teresa Fischer, left, of Uniontown, is fair princess while Blake Victor, right, of Perryopolis, is fair queen and will represent Fayette County at the state fair queen contest in January. Victor made history by becoming the first Fayette County Fair queen to be the daughter of a Fayette County Fair queen. Kelly Webster Victor, her mother, was crowned in 1994.
Fayette County Fair's 2017 royalty are pictured just before the start of the recent annual meeting of the Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in Dunbar Township. Teresa Fischer, left, of Uniontown, is fair princess while Blake Victor, right, of Perryopolis, is fair queen and will represent Fayette County at the state fair queen contest in January. Victor made history by becoming the first Fayette County Fair queen to be the daughter of a Fayette County Fair queen. Kelly Webster Victor, her mother, was crowned in 1994.
Teresa Fischer, of Uniontown, 2017 Fayette County Fair princess, makes remarks during the recent annual meeting of the Fayette County Agricultural Association at the fairgrounds in Dunbar Township. Fischer said, “This experience has given me a greater love and respect for agriculture and farm lifestyles. Farming is far greater than food development and raising animals; it is developing a work ethic that deserves the utmost respect.’’
Blake Victor, of Perryopolis, 2017 Fayette County Fair queen, addresses members of the Fayette County Agricultural Association during their recent annual meeting at the fairgrounds in Dunbar Township. Victor made history by becoming the first Fayette County Fair queen to be the daughter of a Fayette County Fair queen. Kelly Webster Victor, her mother, was crowned in 1994. Selected during her final year of 4-H, Victor said, “Getting to reign as queen was the cherry on top.’’
A long-time member of the Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association’s board of directors retired from his position, and a former member was re-elected in his place, at the association’s recent annual meeting at the Fayette County Fairgrounds.
Ed Stanish Jr. of South Union Township decided to step down from the fair board after serving 18 years. Both Stanish and his wife, Debbie, will remain active volunteers. Ed co-chairs the poultry department while Debbie’s work includes being co-chairwoman of the fair queen contest.
“I’m going to miss it, but, like I told everybody, I’m not going away. I’ll be around,” said Stanish.
Bill Jackson, fair board president, acknowledged Stanish during the program and remarked, “We appreciate his service and wish him well.”
Rob Harper of Redstone Township is taking Stanish’s place. A local attorney with a private practice in Uniontown, Harper is a member of the Fayette County Farm Bureau, a director of the Fayette County Cattlemen’s Association, a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and president of the Fayette County Extension Board. He owns a small cow-calf operation with his family in Redstone Township, and is a former 4-H leader.
Harper previously served on the board about 10 years ago but didn’t run for re-election when he decided to attend law school.
“It’s such a great organization,” Harper said of the agricultural improvement association. “I grew up at the fair and my family exhibited cattle, pigs and sheep for close to 20 years. I grew up with kids in 4-H and they are some of my best friends. It’s an honor and privilege to serve. The board is so great — to have all this agricultural knowledge. They could be doing anything but they are here volunteering their time. The people running were also very high-quality candidates.”
The association voted for Harper and retained five incumbent members of the 13-member board. Six members of the board are elected every year for two-year terms while one position is allocated for a representative of Penn State Extension.
The five returning incumbents include Jackson of Redstone Township, a board member for 22 years; Chris Piwowar Sr. of Franklin Township, who has served two years; Anthony Regula of Brownfield, 41 years; RaeLynn Regula of Uniontown, eight years; and Linda Rooker of Smock, 14 years. Jackson has served as board president 22 years and Rooker as board secretary for eight years.
Other candidates included Teresa (Tina) Allen of North Union Township, Benjamin Eicher of Uniontown; Zachary Pringle of Smithfield; and Amber Trump of Connellsville.
Meanwhile, Jackson said the 2017 Fayette County Fair was “somewhere in the average range. We had two to three nights of bad weather that affected us.”
While the treasurer’s report was accepted without discussion, treasurer John Blaney of Franklin Township explained before the meeting that weather affected the gate admission, bringing revenue down from $603,391.06 in 2016 to $577,358.98 in 2017. Altogether, total income was down from $1,326,471.21 in 2016 to $1,080.084.59 in 2017.
But expenses were also down this year compared to last: $1,319,428.20 in 2016 to $1,073,495.75 in 2017. The fair has an ending balance of $6,588.84 in 2017, compared to $7,043.01 in 2016 when a sewerage project caused a higher cost to capital improvements.
“The bottom line is, when you look at expenses, we were pretty frugal,” Blaney said.
Jackson told association members, “Financially, we’re sound.”
The dinner meeting, attended by about 210 people in the Fiddlers Building, included remarks by Blake Victor of Perryopolis, 2017 fair queen, and Teresa Fischer of Uniontown, fair princess.
Victor made history by becoming the first Fayette County fair queen who is the daughter of a Fayette County fair queen. Kelly Webster Victor, her mother, was crowned in 1994.
Victor, a Penn State student who hopes to become a veterinarian, explained her mother encouraged her to run for fair queen, saying, “I know she’s very proud.”
As this was also her final year of 4-H, Victor said, “Getting to reign as queen was the cherry on top.”
Fischer, who is studying industrial engineering at West Virginia University where she is also a member of the Western equestrian team, said, “This experience has given me a greater love and respect for agriculture and farm lifestyles. Farming is far greater than food development and raising animals; it is developing a work ethic that deserves the utmost respect.”
Both young women talked about highlights of this year’s fair, and thanked the fair board, association members, sponsors, their families and each other for support during the 10-day event. The two also participate in community events. Victor will represent Fayette County in the state fair queen contest in January in Hershey.
Jennifer Deichert, Penn State Extension 4-H educator, said more than 400 youths participated in traditional 4-H clubs this year.
Deichert also talked about the new Science of Agriculture Challenge, part of a national program that brings together youths and adults in the community to search for solutions to local problems. For example, one Mid-West team found a way to use technology to locate missing farm animals. Scholarship opportunities are part of the program.
The 2018 Fayette County Fair will be held July 26 to Aug. 4.