Fayette County Cattlemen named Friend of the Fair
For their dedication and willingness to help, the Fayette County Cattlemen have been named by Pennsylvania and the Fayette County Fair as a 2018 Friend of the Fair.
“It’s a great honor for them to recognize us,” said Harry Dice of Smithfield, Cattlemen president. “We weren’t expecting it and to recognize what we do is great. We greatly appreciate it.”
Russell Redding, state agricultural secretary, announced the honor at the opening ceremony as part of his visit to the Fayette County Fair. The Friend of the Fair recipient is kept a secret until its presentation.
Redding noted the award is given “In recognition of the essential leadership, dedication and volunteer spirit that friends of our fairs exemplify in service to Pennsylvania’s 109 agricultural fairs.”
Bill Jackson, fair board president, remarked, “They’re a great organization. I want to thank them on behalf of the fair board.”
Started in the 1980s and reorganized in 1990 by the late Frank Mutnansky, the Cattlemen operate a food booth that sells steak sandwiches and hamburgers each year during the Fayette County Fair and uses its funds for charitable purposes.
“It’s all volunteers who donate their time to work all shifts,” noted Dice.
This year, the Cattlemen donated $12,000 towards the building of the new steer barn at the Fayette County Fairgrounds. The new barn is taller and has better lighting and ventilation. A lean-to will provide room for overage. Dice estimated the new barn will hold 72 animals with an addition 25 in the overflow area.
“Our main thing is to support 4-H kids,” said Dice, explaining the Cattlemen support a county-bred program that gives awards to youths who show animals bred in Fayette County in competition at the Fayette County Fair.
In addition, the Cattlemen have provided funds in the past for improvements at the Chevron Outdoor Arena on the fairgrounds. The Cattlemen also make donations to Toys for Tots and veterans organizations.
Dice said this is all made possible due to the cattlemen’s booth and the directors who started it as well as those who have kept it up.
In addition to Dice, Cattlemen directors include Kenny Schrock of Vanderbilt, vice president; Ed Regula of Brownfield, treasurer; Andrea Janson of Uniontown, secretary; Dave Biggerstaff of Belle Vernon; Laura Smith of Smithfield; Bob Work of Uniontown; Rob Harper of Uniontown; and Craig Diamond of Belle Vernon.
Dice observed of the organization, “It’s not one person, it takes all of us to make it work.”