CRESCO, Iowa — The Dallas County Fair has been awarded the 2022 Blue Ribbon Fair Award by the board of directors of the Association of Iowa Fairs.
The award was presented to the Fair’s Board of Directors at the association’s 2022 conference and annual meeting, held Dec. 9-11 at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines. The Dallas County Fair was chosen to receive the award from all the Fairs in the association’s South Central District.
“One member fair in each of the Association’s six fair districts in Iowa is presented this award each year,” said Thomas Barnes, executive director of the Association of Iowa Fairs. “The fair that receives this award must have shown progress in providing service to the youth programs in their community, plus shown distinguished service the community in both the fair and interim events. My wife, Sue, and I have visited the Dallas County Fair in Adel several times over the past years, and we found it does indeed serve very well the community as outlined in the guidelines of this award.”
Barnes thanked the Dallas County Fair Board along with the Dallas County 4-H program, area FFA Chapters and all the area volunteers who are involved with the county fair and whose combined efforts resulted in the Blue Ribbon Fair Award.
“The Board of Directors of the Association of Iowa Fairs would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the Dallas County Fair Board and their spouses for their commitment to their Fair, and to the fair industry in Iowa.” he said.
The Dallas County Fair Board of Directors includes Brad Christensen, Ben Heyer, Andy Hick, Sean Hick, Sherry James, Jeramy Marean, Gary Mash, Eric Morman, Mike Pitzen, Marty Radke, Heather Rowe, Jordan Travis, Jeff Wynn and Ashley Zika.
The Association of Iowa Fairs is the organizational body of the fair industry in Iowa. Its membership includes the 105 county fairs of Iowa and the Iowa State Fair, and it has 145 associate members, such as carnivals, entertainment agencies, festivals, chambers, concessionaires, special attractions and suppliers of the industry. The membership works to promote and strengthen the fair industry in Iowa.
The 2023 officers of the Association Board are President Danny Olson of Red Oak, First Vice President Jon Baltes of Hampton and Second Vice President Mary Bolton of Emerson. The immediate Past President is Steve Voss of Sibley. Thomas and Susan Barnes of Cresco serve as the association’s executive director and executive secretary/treasurer respectively, and they are associated with the Mighty Howard County Fair in Cresco. For further information on the Association of Iowa Fairs, visit the association’s website.
