Muscatine County Fair honors volunteers for years of service
by Sara Sedlacek · October 07, 2009

Bruce and Larry Miller are pretty humble guys. They’ve been volunteering at the Muscatine County Fair for years but it’s no big deal to them. It’s just something they do.

“Growing up in West Liberty, the fair has always been a big part of our summer,” Bruce Miller said. “We’d like to see it continue to be successful and volunteering is a good way to do that.”

Larry Miller agreed and said owning Fred’s Feed & Supply definitely plays a big part in their involvement in the fair.

“Having the ag background, we want to help support the 4-H and FFA kids,” he said.

They both agree that, in a community like West Liberty, helping out at the fair is just something you do.

“It’s easy,” Bruce said. “Everyone should do it.”

Though the Millers may think their time volunteering for the fair is no big deal, Muscatine County Fair Manager Lori Gosenberg and the rest of the fair board sure think it’s a great thing. That’s why, beginning this year, the board has awarded Bruce and Larry Miller with Fred’s Feed & Supply, along with Bill and Mike Cline with H.D. Cline, Ken and Sue Morrison with Ken Morrison Construction, Tim and Lori Greif with Greif Construction and Mike Kessler with Kessler Electric the first annual Volunteers of the Fair Award.

“Some of these people probably don’t even realize how much they help and how much we appreciate it,” Gosenberg said. “These are the people and businesses that have helped us year after year and we thought they’d be good charter members. These people are staples in our volunteer workforce and they make the fair happen each year.”

Gosenberg said others will be recognized in the future and she hopes the award, which will allow the winners to attend the annual meeting and vote for board members, will encourage others to volunteer, too.

“There are so many things people can do,” she said. “There are always things that can be done and with these economic times, any help we can get is what will help us make the fair a success.”

According to Gosenberg, it’s the little things that count the most. For instance, she said if H.D. Cline didn’t bring their skidloader over to the fairgrounds to help move the concrete barriers near the grand stand.

“That half an hour saves us big time,” she said.

Gosenberg said, no matter what, there will always be jobs the board has to pay people to do, but the more volunteers they have, the better.

“There are jobs here we pay people to do and we would love to have volunteers for but not everyone is willing to work for free and I understand that,” said Gosenberg.

She said the fair needs volunteers all year round, whether it be helping out during fair time or stuffing envelopes in the office on the off-season.

“There’s always something to do,” she said. “Every little bit helps.”

If you would like to volunteer, contact Lori Gosenberg at 627-2414 or email at mcfair@Lcom.net.