 Wayne Lynch of Boone County was named "2025 Iowa Fairman of the Year" at the Association of Iowa Fairs Convention this past Friday, December 12, in Des Moines. According to the Association of Iowa Fairs Executive Director Tom Barnes, "The purpose of the Association of Iowa Fairs’ Fairman of the Year Award is to recognize a person for outstanding dedication and service to the awardee’s own Fair, and to recognize contributions to the fair industry in Iowa." With over 106 member Fairs in the Association, and each having active board members, it is truly an honor to named Fairman of the year.
Wayne grew up on a farm in rural Boone County and was a member of Boone County 4-H and United Community FFA. He exhibited at the Boone County Fair in his youth. He even met his wife, Julie, at the Iowa State Fair. Wayne has worked for Smithfield for 25 years as a sales account manager. He also raises show pigs, farms with his brothers and auctioneers at his family's auctioneer business. Wayne and Julie have raised two boys, Brennan and Nathan, who were also active in 4-H, FFA and showing at the Boone County Fair and the Iowa State Fair. Both boys have grown up at the fairgrounds and are always willing to lend a hand. Julie helps with clean up, painting projects and always makes sure the fair board has her famous scotcheroos to eat. Wayne has raised a family who cares about the fair almost as much as he does. Throughout the nearly three decades on the fair board, including five years as president and seven years as vice president, Wayne has come to see all sides of the fair and how they must work together to make a successful event. Wayne understands the balance of growing the fair, but doing it in a way that is sustainable and within budget. He has worked to bring in new entertainment, provide exceptional facilities at the fairgrounds for exhibitors and fairgoers and developed a good working relationship with 4-H and FFA staff in Boone County. He communicates with exhibitors and vendors to make sure their needs are met. When fair is not in season, he is one of the first to show up at work nights to help with projects or volunteer to work at a fundraiser event. Wayne enjoyed putting together a haunted house as a fundraiser in the fall, and auctioneers at our Fair Fundraiser in the spring. He is always the first to volunteer to bartend at events and we can always count on him to attend monthly meetings and committee meetings. Fair is not just a one week a year event for Wayne, he knows this volunteerism is a year-round job. Boone County Fair Manager, Ashley Fitzgerald highlights some of Wayne's involvement with the Fair. "In my opinion, one of Wayne's greatest accomplishments was in 2020 when he was the board president and our board decided to move forward to have a full Fair although the global pandemic shut down most all other fairs. He was integral in meeting with Emergency Management and other public safety officials to create plans and procedures to make sure fairgoers would remain safe at the fair during the global pandemic. In addition to his regular fair duties, he also spent hours that fair with a backpack sprayer sanitizing seating, tables, and other public areas late at night and early in the morning. His dedication to making our Fair happen that year was an accomplishment appreciated by our exhibitors, their families, our vendors, and our entire community." The Boone County Fairboard was extremely supportive of Wayne receiving the Fairman of the Year Award, stating, "Wayne would never ask to be put in the spotlight, but his selfless service to the Fair is a wonderful example of work ethic and values all fair board members should embody. His services deserve to be recognized."
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Save the DateMore information coming soon!   The mission of the Boone County Agricultural Association and Boone County Fair Board is to encourage, support, and promote the growth and development of urban and rural communities of Boone County by highlighting the heritage of the community, and its ties to agriculture, industry and business that are the backbone of the community. If you look throughout the county it is hard to find a group of people who volunteer more time for the betterment of others than the Boone County Fair Board. Board members spend countless volunteer hours making improvements to the fairgrounds as well as planning and coordinating the annual county fair. We are grateful to have such a wonderful group of caring individuals serve our county.
2024-25 Fair Board members are as follows: Patrick Erb, Wayne Lynch, Doyle Stern, Tracy Herman, Tim Anderson, Jeff Needham, Kevin Meier, Jon Bullock, Alan Schoff, Les Mills, Kim Rhodes, Blake Beckett, Dan Graham, Jentry Schoff, & Tonya Osborn. Fair Board Officers: President – Patrick Erb, Vice President – Wayne Lynch, Treasurer – Doyle Stern, Secretary – Tracy Herman. The board also welcome a record 10 associate members to the board: Kim Bullock, Kim Meier, Stephanie Dowdy, Holly Jacobsen, Nichol Graham, Hailey Beckett, Brian Crook, Erica Petty, Amanda Taylor, & Marchele Duley. To learn more about who we are and what we do, please visit our website at www.boonecountyfairia.com
The English language describes an "Era" as "a period of time know for particular event." As we look over the course of our lives different events stand out as Era's we most often highlight. Childhood, graduation, parenthood, retirement, etc. For some of us, the Fair is an era we so much enjoy re-visiting each year. Throughout the years, our view of the Fair may change. First as a young child enjoying the carnival rides, later on as a hardworking 4-H or FFA members exhibiting projects. Later in life as parents, grandparents, volunteers and community members who take in the joy of the fair through the lens of nostalgia and wonderment. Whatever phase of the Fair Era you are in, we hope you join us July 18-21, 2024 to make this Fair Era one for the record books!  Join us Saturday March 30th at 10am for our annual Easter Egg Hunt! The hunt for eggs will be divided into three age groups.; 4 and under, 5-7 and 8-10 year old's. The hunt will be on the fairgrounds west of the community building. In case of rain, the event will be moved inside. Thank you to the Harrison Hilltop Hustler 4-H club for helping stuff the eggs.  Save the Date! The 2024 Boone County Fair Fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday February 3rd! Proceeds generated from the event will help pay for judges, premiums and ribbons for 4-H and FFA events during the Fair as well as our 2024 special fund-a-need project; sealing the roof on the Erb Center. The Erb Center is used regularly by 4-H Clubs and FFA Chapters. It is used for club meetings, workshops, day camps, and much more throughout the year. During the Boone County Fair, the Erb Center is solely used as the 4-H Foodstand. Proceeds from the 4-H Foodstand go towards funding the 4-H program for the entire year including sending youth on trips, conferences, camps, workshops and much more. The Erb Center was updated in 2016 from the existing foodstand. The entire building was remodeled but one project that there wasn't funds for was sealing the roof. In 2023, the Erb Center roof leaked in the kitchen area. We are currently raising funds to put a sealant on the metal roof. The sealant will seal all fasteners as well as rust-proofing. The sealant has a 30 year life expectancy, and an 18 year waterproof warranty. This will ensure years of keeping the Erb Center in great condition for the use of the 4-H food stand and many other uses. The cost to seal the roof on the Erb Center is over $15,000. It is our goal to fundraise as much money as possible towards this project and have it completed before the 2024 Fair. If you want to help make the 2024 Fair fundraiser a success, the fair board is currently seeking donations for the live and silent auction. Donation deadline is January 22nd. Fair Fundraiser tickets can be purchased here: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/bcf24/register/
The annual meeting of the Boone County Agricultural Association was held on September 11th 2024. Elections took place, and on October 1st the new officers and board took over. Wayne Lynch served four consecutive terms as president, and per the association by-laws must vacate the presidential position for a minimum of one year. The fair board has been greatly appreciative of the years of leadership, and look forward to him still offering guidance to the board in his new role, as Vice President. Elected President, was long time board member Patrick Erb. Doyle Stern was re-elected to the treasurer position, and Tracy Herman was elected as secretary, this being her first time holding an officer position on the board. Retiring off the Fair Board was Bonnie Sorenson, we are grateful for her many years of service to the fair board. Dan Graham was elected as the newest member on the board. He joins returning Fair Board Members: Lindsey Stolte, Tim Anderson, Jeff Needham, Kevin Meier, Jonathan Bullock, Alan Schoff, Les Mills, Kim Rhodes, Blake Becket and Jentry Schoff. In addition to voting members ten associate members were also elected to the board. They include: Kim Bullock, Kim Meier, Stephanie Dowdy, Erik McFarland, Holley Jacobsen, Montana Sour, Nichol Graham, Hailey Beckett, Brian Crook & Don Howard. Caitlin Needham was also elected as a junior member of the fair board.
The new parking lot is complete! It has been years of planning and fundraising, but it is finally finished and we couldn't be more happy. Thanks to grants from the Leonard Good Trust, and the Boone Community Endowment Fund as well as funding from Boone County and strategic savings from the fair board over several years the project is now completed. The repaving of the parking lot is much needed for the safety of our guests, the integrity of the grounds and buildings as it will ensure water flows away from buildings. The parking lot resurfacing project completion comes just in front of the Centennial Celebration of the Boone County Fair, which is schedule for July 20-23. Make sure you take time to visit the Fair and and enjoy the new parking lot. 
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AuthorAshley Fitzgerald, Archives
December 2025
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