BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Bradford County Commissioners have reconstituted the board of the Bradford Fair Association after settling the association’s debt and acquiring the fairgrounds property.
The number for board members has ballooned, however, after Sheriff Gordon Smith discovered the association’s charter required a minimum of 20 members during his inquiry into the actions of the former fair board.
According to Amanda Brown in the county manager’s office, the new fair board represents a diverse mix of community members with longstanding experience in agriculture, community outreach, economic development, etc.
They include Paul Huntley, president of the Bradford-Union Swine Association, whom the commission appointed to chair the fair board.
Also selected to serve were:
Alana Borgner, Bradford-Union Cattleman’s Show and Sale.
Amanda Hardee, National Barrel Horse Association.
Brad Thomas, Bradford Swine and Cattle Association.
Heather Hinds, Bradford County Public Works.
Judy Sumpter, Concerned Citizens of Bradford County and president of Pleasant Grove Action Group.
Lisa M. Holtzendorf, Bradford and Union 4-H, Bradford County Farm Bureau, Union County Livestock Association and Florida Cattlewomen’s Association.
Marty Shaw, board member of Jacksonville Fair Association (1999-2002), Rotary board member, Northeast Florida Economic Development Corporation board member.
Michael Heeder, prior Bradford County Fair Association board member, Funtastic Fire Brigade, event organizer.
Teresa Phillips, county tax collector and Altrusa of Starke.
Valara Petteway, Dreamers and Doers of Bradford County.
Gregory Alvarez, 40 years of experience in agricultural education, community engagement and youth leadership
Brian Outlaw, Bradford-Union Swine Association.
JoAnna McHugh, Bailey Family Scholarship Selection Committee, 2018-19 Fair Volunteer.
Jeff Johnson, Starke Police Department Pension Board, former chief of police.
Kevin Thompson, Bradford-Union Cattleman’s Show and Sale vice president, and Bradford-Union Swine Association.
Jimmy J.E. Smith, rib competition for Holidays for Heroes.
Blake Hamilton, Florida Junior Brahman Association.
Pam Whittle, North Florida Regional Chamber of Commerce president.
Vyunda Strong, Lawtey Zoning Board chairman.
Clay Whitehead, Bradford-Union Cattleman’s Association president Bradford-Union Cattleman’s Show and Sale.
Members from the recent board who will continue to serve per the county’s agreement with the fair association are Chris Page, Tammy Woodard, Kaitlin VanHeusen and Roxanne Rosier.
The Bradford County Fair Association has advertised it will meet on this Tuesday, May 27, at 5:30 p.m. in the county commission meeting room, located in the north wing of the courthouse.
As for questions about the actions of the former fair board, including the transfer of land and other property out of the hands of the fair association to a related nonprofit, Sheriff Smith confirmed he has turned the investigating over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Department of Agriculture.
