BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
The new board of the Bradford County Fair Association has one meeting under its belt, an executive board and its first event on the calendar.
Paul Huntley, president of the Bradford-Union Swine Association and previously appointed by the county commission as president of the fair board, chaired the May 24 meeting and oversaw the election of the remaining executive board members.
The vice presidency went to Brad Thomas, also vice president of the swine association. Chris Page, a returning member of the previous fair board with volunteer and banking experience, was appointed treasurer. Heather Hinds from Bradford County Public Works was elected secretary.
More than just producing a weeklong fair, Huntley told the board they need to think about the events that would be scheduled throughout the year, and he opened the floor to hear from board members their thoughts about moving forward.
Marty Shaw of Coldwell Banker Smith and Smith Realty and a former member of the Jacksonville Fair Association expressed a desire to see Bradford’s fair return to its former excellence.
Having been involved with the fair now for many years, Vice President Thomas said he’s slowly watched things slip away under recent management. He believes this larger group will incorporate more of the community’s voice and lead to more involvement.
Kaitlin VanHeusen, agriculture teacher at North Florida Technical College, has of course been involved at the fairgrounds, both as mother and organizing poultry showmanship. She advocated bringing back school booths and other youth projects, so parents have reason to show up and spend money.
“That plant, that chicken, that rabbit, that fair project, that art project they did in their school class needs to be back in that building. That’s how you drive traffic in. That’s how you reach out. That’s how you buy in support,” she said.
Roxanne Rosier has been involved for 37 years and said she witnessed the loss of the community’s energy and involvement. Without the adults, they won’t have the children, so she said they must stress the importance of carrying on this tradition.
Amanda Hardee, the owner of Cutt’n Up salon, and a mother whose children raised animals for the fair, said she wanted to see the horse arena restored and become a new rental space for the association. Lisa Holtzendorf agreed with Hardee about the potential as a revenue source, saying it’s a shame families must go out of county to ride. Having been involved with the fair since she first showed a pig at the age of 8, she said the fairgrounds should be rented out every week.
“Every weekend there needs to be something going on down there. There’s no reason for that place to sit empty (with) as many things that are happening outside of our community that you could bring right here,” she said. Familiar with fairs in and out of state, she said Bradford County’s fair could be as big or even bigger than some others.
While everyone wanted to see a return to form, some saw an opportunity add to the fair experience, including Valara Petteway of Dreamers and Doers of Bradford County. She said her main goal was to bring more cultural activities to the fair.
Vyunda Strong said she wanted to see the community to come together around the fairgrounds and for there to be something for everyone at the underutilized facility. Introducing herself as a community advocate, she also called for accountability in its management, and she wasn’t the only one.
Board member Greg Alavarez questioned the selection of board members, saying the county commission had stacked the board by handpicking members instead of relying on applicants and violated the charter by appointing a president. He said such actions are why the fair association has lost support, and Strong agreed, also questioning potential Sunshine Law violations if board members had been with each other outside of public meetings.
County Manager Scott Kornegay explained the county’s agreement with the former fair board stipulated the commission would select someone to chair the board. Board member Jeff Johnson said people can throw darts, but the board must get started somewhere. Thomas said the executive board’s first item of business would be to draft changes to the old charter, and new board members would vote on those proposed amendments. He suggested the executive board have a three-month term, and the board agreed they would reevaluate leadership at that time.
Even with challenges like amending the 1967 charter and finding grant funds to restore the horse arena, Huntley expressed excitement about the potential for the fairgrounds.
“I think if we all come together, work together, I think the fair can be great again,” he said. “And when I say the fair, the whole fairgrounds down there can be something this whole county’s proud of.”
The first event under the new board actually belongs to fair board member Michael Heeder, a retired firefighter responsible for events like Touch a Truck and the Starke Spangled Splash Bash, returning this July. Because the event has outgrown its former venue at Bradford High, it is moving to the fairgrounds this year and will include two days of entertainment on July 4 and 5. A parade at 9 a.m. downtown will kick off the event, with festivities at the fairgrounds continuing that afternoon.
Future fair board meetings will continue the fourth Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m., with an executive board meeting at 5:30 p.m. These will typically take place in the commission meeting room at the courthouse, although the June meeting will begin with a tour of the fairgrounds.
