Bonner County Fair honors volunteers
SANDPOINT — As the engine that keeps the Bonner County Fair running, local volunteers often don’t get the recognition they deserve.
That changed last week with a round of commendations from the very top of the national government. More than two dozen individuals groups received varying levels of awards from the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Recipients gathered at the Bonner County Fairgrounds for an award ceremony officiated by Bonner County Fair manager Rhonda Livingstone, fair board president Tim Cary and Bonner County Commissioner Glen Bailey.
Topping the list of honorees Oct. 7 were Don and Terri Albertson, Leona Irish, Betty Kinne, Claire Travers and Jim and Virginia Wood, who earned the President’s Call to Service Award recognizing the more than 4,000 volunteer hours they’ve each put into the fair over their lifetimes.
The President’s Volunteer Service Awards distributed this year also gave accolades to several members of the Bonner County Fair Junior Advisory Board, Livingstone said. Made up of teens with a background in 4-H activities, the advisory board helps generate youth-friendly activities for the fairgrounds.
The acknowledgments are entirely deserved, according to Livingstone. The annual fair is a massive undertaking, requiring huge amounts of manpower to set up booths and decorations, handle the many animals on display and manage logistics for the thousands of visitors that visit over the week. Beyond the fair itself, staff and volunteers have their hands full with the many camps, educational opportunities and events that occur throughout the year.
Established by President George W. Bush shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, the President’s Volunteer Service Award is meant to encourage personal generosity and charity at a grassroots level. The awards are organized with different requirements for kids, young adults, adults, and families or groups.
The award includes bronze, silver and gold tiers for each category, plus a special lifetime achievement honor.