Board of directors elected for annual fair

By Cindy Jo Ayers

The annual general meeting of the Suwannee River Fair and Livestock Show was held on Monday, Aug. 30 at the fairgrounds. The meeting got underway with the election of directors. Gilchrist, Levy and Dixie counties each have four elected directors with one at-large director, which comes from any of the three counties.
Gilchrist County had Randy Roberts and Hugh Thomas up for election this year. Michelle Crawford, Randy Roberts, Pee Wee Jones and Hugh Thomas were all nominated. After the paper ballots were counted, Michelle Crawford and Pee Wee Jones were elected. Also serving from Gilchrist County, but not up for election are Jerry Wright and Julie Thomas.

SRF Board of Directors are shown, left to right, Greg Sanchez, Tim Alexander, Troy Johnson,
Julie Thomas, Loran Brookins, Michelle Crawford, Vadin Barber, Randy King, Frank Dola, Pee Wee Jones,
Mickey Beauchamp, Jerry Wright and Gene Faircloth.

Gene Faircloth and Gary Pinner’s director positions were up for election this year from Dixie County. Gary Pinner was not at the meeting, so he could not be nominated. Gene Faircloth and Randy King were nominated and because there were no other nominations they became directors without an election. Tim Alexander and Troy Johnson are also currently serving as directors from Dixie County.
In Levy County, directors Frank Dola and Brad Etheridge were up for election. Etheridge opted not to run again. Frank Dola and Vadin Barber were nominated. Dola and Barber automatically became the directors. The other two directors from Levy County are Loran Brookins and Mickey Beauchamp.
The director at large position drew three nominees, Hugh Thomas and Randy Roberts of Gilchrist County and Greg Sanchez of Dixie County. After the votes were counted Greg Sanchez was elected director at large. Pee Wee Jones of Gilchrist County held the director at large seat last year.
The 59th Annual Suwannee River Fair and Livestock Show and Sale will be held Thursday, March 10, through Saturday, March 12, and Friday, March 18, through Wednesday, March 23.
The dates for the weigh-in/tag-in are: Fat Steer - October 2, 2010 from 7 to 9 a.m. Feeder Steer - December 4, 2010 from 7 to 9 a.m. The Swine tag-in will be held December 11, 2010 from 7 to 10 a.m. and the heifer tag-in will be held on December 11, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Entry forms for all divisions are due on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011.
2010 Suwannee River Fair President Loran Brookins reminded those gathered that the new fair website is up and running at mysrf.org. All the fair information including rules, entry forms and deadlines are available at this site.
President Brookins also told the crowd of the Monday, Sept. 13 meeting which will be held at the Suwannee River Shrine Club located on SR 26 near Fanning Springs. This meeting will be held to help all FFA advisors and 4-H members become familiar with the rules for the 2011 fair. The meeting will give everyone an opportunity to ask questions and get answers from the board of directors and the fair superintendents.