Fair honors volunteers with over a century of combined service
Receiving the Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Wayne County Agricultural Society were Jennifer Rhamy, left, Ruth Bishop, and Cheryl and Frank Bishop.
Four individuals each with more than 25 years of volunteer service to the Wayne County Fair were honored by the Wayne County Agricultural Society (fair board) at its annual recognition banquet on Aug. 20.
The board presented Ruth Bishop, Jennifer Rhamy, and Frank and Cheryl Bishop with the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award.
Ruth Bishop’s volunteer work began when she was a 4-H adviser. Currently, she is secretary/treasurer for the Valley College Grange and worked in the fair’s dining hall when it was operated by the granges. She also volunteers in the fair’s information booth and is an Ohio State University Extension master gardener, the group that maintains the flowers on the fairgrounds.
Ruth Bishop advocated for the new veterans memorial outside the Fair Event Center. She is a member of the Tree City Quilters Guild and has contributed quilts for the Honoring Our Patriot’s Service Program, which donates quilts and recognizes veterans. She also is a member of the Wayne County Stitchers and displays her work in Buss Hall during the fair.
“She is an inspiration to all master gardeners, volunteers and the community that know and work with her,” the nomination form read.
Rhamy has clerked the Wayne County Junior Fair Livestock Sale for 46 years. She has spent numerous hours at those auctions billing and collecting funds from all buyers and has transitioned with technology, switching from manually typing 650-700 checks to computerized operations for sale totals of $1 million.
Over the last 35 years, Rhamy has assumed more management and leadership roles at the livestock sales, board member Tom Stocksdale said in presenting the award. She will not leave the sale barn unless the entire sale is balanced.
A retired Wayne County National Bank branch assistant, Rhamy won an award for the longest perfect balancing record of all employees while she was in that position.
Stocksdale called Rhamy a great asset and supporter of the Wayne County Fair, Wayne County Junior Fair Sale, Friends of the Wayne County Fair and community.
Frank and Cheryl Bishop of West Salem were honored for leading the fair’s antique department since it started 33 years ago. As longtime antique dealers in Wayne, Holmes and Ashland counties and online, “The Bishops bring impressive expertise to the committee,” their nomination form read.
Their knowledge of antiques including pottery, furniture, textiles, glassware, advertising, marbles and prints has contributed to the success of the department.
"Cheryl Bishop has been a key component in designing and arranging eye-catching displays that have been the hallmark of every antiques show at the fair," the nomination said. "She and her husband help foster a sense of warmth and camaraderie among the participants."
While entrants change each year, those personal relationships honed by the Bishops keep entrants coming back.
This year the Bishops helped the antiques department make some changes to attempt to involve both younger and newer competitors.
The fair board also recognized a record number of former members in attendance and years they served on the board: Ron Grosjean, 42 years; Herb Berry, 30 years; Jeff Harmon, 27 years; Bob Troutman, 26 years; Roger Sprang, 25 years; Tom Wolf, 24 years; Don Reichert, 23 years; Mike Kinney, 22 years; Ron Borton, 21 years; Carl Redick, 21 years; Bob Winkler, 19 years; Winston Wyckoff, 18 years; and Dick Stull, 18 years.
“That’s a tremendous amount of history right there,” fair secretary Matt Martin said. “We appreciate all you’ve done for the Wayne County Fair.”