Volunteerism key to the success of fair

This year’s Chase County Fair & Expo went into the history books with the final pull in the Heartland Pulling series Sunday afternoon. What a great way to wrap a week full of activities for all.
    I heard something last week that I hadn’t really thought about but believe is true—you must be sleeping if you can’t find something that interests you at the Chase County Fair.
        Chase County has built a unique reputation unlike any county fair in Nebraska. That’s something that our people take a great deal of pride in.
        One has to look no further than to the many volunteers who pitch in to make sure the fair’s reputation remains intact.
        First and foremost, there’s the fair board—yes, the fair board members are all volunteers. They meet and work year-round to ensure this year’s fair is better than the last. It’s a time-consuming job, too often a thankless job, but they love bringing you a great fair.
        Then I think of all the people who volunteer to serve as judges and coordinators for 4-H and open class entries.
    Then, there are all the superintendents for livestock entries, from rabbits and chickens to market beef.
    How about members of all the local organizations who step up to do their part by volunteering their time? Some organizations that come to mind include the Eagles, the Jaycees, the Chamber, the Lions, Imperial EMS, Imperial firemen, ABATE and the city workers, just to mention a few.
    Area businesses and farm operations show their pride by becoming fair sponsors. This successful program has enabled the fair to continue to grow, in terms of both facilities and events.
    Next time you see one of those people who help make the fair such a success, take a moment to tell them “thanks.”