Clarke County Fair is doing something right, and it's being noticed.
Clarke County Fair was selected to receive the Association of Iowa Fairs' 2013 Blue Ribbon Fair award. The fair represents the South Central District of the Association of Iowa Fairs.
In a letter from Thomas V. Barnes, executive director of the Association of Iowa Fairs, he wrote, "On behalf of the association board, I would like to extend a hardy congrats to your board. It is great to have such a great fair as yours honored by this special award."
Clarke County Fair Board President Jeff Webb said the award encompasses the county fair, as well as its fair board.
"It's mainly for the fair," Webb said. "I mean, it's kind of what the board does throughout the year to improve the fair."
Local service
In order for a fair to receive the award, it must provide service to the 4-H and FFA programs, show distinguished service in the community and surrounding area in both fair and nonfair areas, possess a strong community-based involvement with all aspects of the fair and the fairgrounds complex must show an aggressive capitol-improvement program utilizing the state aid it receives each year.
Webb said the fair board has worked hard to make improvements to the fairgrounds, including parking lot lights, concrete work, new buildings and work on the cattle barn.
"It's quite an honor to us, it really is," Webb said. "It just means that we're growing. We're improving. We're basically headed in the right direction. We're out here for the kids."
Recognition
Clarke County Fair Board members have been asked to put together a pictorial display and written summary for the upcoming Association of Iowa Fairs conference and annual meeting Dec. 13-15.
The fair board will receive recognition and a plaque at the conference's awards banquet Dec. 13.
Webb said many fair-board members will be attending the awards banquet. Once the fair board receives the plaque, Webb said it would most likely be displayed in the events center at Clarke County Fairgrounds.
"I just want to give great thanks to all my board members," Webb said. "Without them, we couldn't have done it."