Harlee Hutchinson stood before the Keystone Heights Rotary Club at the Montgomery Center on November 12, sharing her vision for the Bradford County Fair with the enthusiasm of someone who grew up attending rodeos in rural Texas and never lost her appreciation for small-town agriculture.
“There is something very special to me about rural communities, communities that are rooted in agriculture, small town America,” said Hutchinson, who became Bradford County’s fair manager four weeks ago. “I want to contribute my time and effort to do something that will preserve those places, those feelings and those amazing things that we accomplish in places like this.”
The Lake Butler resident brings extensive nonprofit fundraising and event management experience to the position, most recently serving at Ronald McDonald House Charities in Gainesville, where she coordinated large-scale events that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
From Texas to Florida
Originally from Centerville, a rural area near College Station, Texas, Hutchinson moved to the Sunshine State “because I fell in love with a boy from Florida,” she said.
She attended Texas A&M University before relocating and has lived in Lake Butler for almost four years.
“It’s a nice little place,” she said of her home in Union County. “We have a little house in the woods, and I enjoy spending my time there.”
Hutchinson describes herself as an “optimistic realist” who focuses on positive thinking while setting realistic goals based on facts and history, an approach she learned through her involvement in FFA during middle school and high school.
“Get action, do things, be sane,” she said, quoting Theodore Roosevelt. “Don’t fritter away your time. Create, act, take up a place wherever you are and be somebody, get action.”
The new fair manager said her focus now is on the 2026 fair, seeking vendor space bookings, fair sponsors, entertainment ideas, and exhibit suggestions. And she is looking for help.
“I would love for you to be involved in whatever way you want,” Hutchinson told the Rotarians, “and I’m sure I’ll need some volunteers also.”
Harley Davidson and Ronald McDonald House
During her tenure at the Ronald McDonald House, Hutchinson organized nine annual fundraising events, including the Red Shoe Affair gala, which drew nearly 800 guests to 94 tables and raised $470,000 this past August, the most in the event’s 13-year history.
She also coordinated Beyond Bourbon at Santa Fe River Ranch, which raised $42,000, and a fashion show featuring local celebrities that brought in $53,000.
One of her most memorable partnerships came through Meldon Law’s charity stripe campaign with the University of Florida basketball program. The firm donated $19.78 for every free throw the Gators made at home, eventually presenting a $10,000 check to Ronald McDonald House.
“These are some examples of really special partnerships that I got to be a part of in Gainesville and something that I hope to bring to my work here,” Hutchinson said.
Bikers on Parade
Before joining the Ronald McDonald House, Hutchinson worked as a marketing and events coordinator for Gainesville Harley-Davidson, where she hosted numerous events and helped boost merchandise and bike sales.
She coordinated the Bikers on Parade ride, which saw over 400 motorcycles travel from Gainesville to Ocala to benefit veterans.
“I was in charge of making sure that it was safe and there was no traffic stops on the road,” she recalled. “It was a little frightening, but it went well. Everybody arrived to Ocala safely and they had a big great party and raised a lot of money at the end.”
2026 Fair theme: Heart of Bradford
The Bradford County Fair will run Thursday, February 26, through Sunday, March 8, giving fairgoers two weekends to attend.
At her first board meeting as fair manager, Hutchinson and the board unanimously approved a theme for the 2026 fair: “Heart of Bradford: Strengthening our roots to grow the future.”
“I feel we all really felt like it was exciting for the new era of the Bradford County Fair,” she said.
Dreamland Amusements will provide the midway rides and food vendors.
Upgrades considered for the equestrian area
Hutchinson said the fairgrounds’ equestrian area, which previously hosted barrel racing and rodeos, could be rebuilt.
“I grew up with a lot of those in Texas,” Hutchinson said, “and so nothing would feel cooler to me than being able to put on a rodeo.”
County Manager Scott Kornegay, who hosted Hutchinson at the Rotary club, added that youth equestrian activities are popular with potential donors for the project.
“There is some discussion going on right now about moving that down to the south, which is where the other buildings are,” he said, adding that the fair board hopes to develop a professional site plan showing optimum placement for the midway, rodeo arena, and other facilities.
