Lynch named Iowa Fairman of the Year

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."