01/15/2025
The Butler County Fair would like to thank everyone for all their volunteering, support, donations and sponsorships that help make YOUR fair and fairgrounds the best it can be! Butler County is a great place with amazing, generous people! Thank you!
BUTLER COUNTY FAIR RECEIVES ‘BLUE RIBBON FAIR’ AWARD!
Cresco, IA: The Butler County Fair, held in Allison, has been awarded the 2024 ‘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 2024 Conference and Annual Meeting, which was held December 13 to 15 at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines, IA. The Butler County Fair was chosen to receive the award from all the Fairs in the Association’s North Central District.
“One member Fair in each of the Association’s six fair districts in Iowa is presented this award each year.” stated Thomas Barnes, Executive Director of the Association. “The Fair that receives this award must have shown progress in providing service to the youth programs in their community, plus show distinguished service the
community in both the Fair and interim events. My wife Sue & I have visited the Butler County Fair 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.”
“The Board of Directors of the Association of Iowa Fairs would like to extend to its sincere appreciation to the Butler County Fair Board and their spouses for their commitment to their Fair, and to the fair industry in Iowa.” Barnes added. “We also would like to thank the Butler County 4-H program, area FFA Chapters and all the many other area volunteers that are involved with the Fair. They all combined make the Butler County Fair a ‘Blue Ribbon Fair’.
The Association of Iowa Fairs is the organizational body of the fair industry in Iowa. It has as its members the 105 county fairs of Iowa and the Iowa State Fair, and 144 associate members such as carnivals, entertainment agencies, festivals, chambers, concessionaires, special attractions and suppliers of the industry. Together, the members of the Association work together to promote and strengthen the fair industry in Iowa.
The 2025 officers of the Association Board are President Mary Bolton of Emerson, First Vice President Mark Troester of Elkader and Second Vice President Ann Schuster of Peosta. The immediate Past President is Jon Baltes of Hampton. Thomas and Susan Barnes of Cresco serve as the Association’s Executive Director and Executive Secretary/Treasurer respectively and are associated with the Mighty Howard County Fair in Cresco. For further information on the Association of Iowa Fairs, visit www.iowafairs.com.
Front Row (L - R): Dani Rottink, Karen Dilger - Secretary, Krista Kluiter, Becky Johnson and Frances Krull. Back Row (L - R): Ashley Fitzgerald - North Central District Director, Rhonda Marshall - Treasurer, Chad Osterbuhr, Mike Stirling - President, Chad Oldenburger, Kristen Wix, Evan Chesnut, Steve Dilger - Vice President, Brad Feckers, Edward Johnson, Jennie Bright and Mike Ruby. Members Not pictured: Jason Johnson, Derek Prostine and Clint Sharp.
