Good old-fashioned fun at the fair
Being a member of the Parker 4-H club from grade school through high school, fairs have been an important part of my life.
Before the Parker Fair was started by Don Cox and my father, Art Bolton, Parker 4-H’ers would haul their clothing, flowers, leathercraft and animals to Yuma for the Yuma County Fair. It was an important event to stay for a week in a local hotel and attend all the judging events at the fair.
Fairs have been a tradition in many of America’s towns and have become an integral part of the lives of generation after generation of Americans. This year’s theme, “Good Old-Fashioned Fun,” is quite appropriate for describing one of the major events for many families throughout our community.
G.E. “Bud” Stewart is honored this year by the Yuma County Fair board. Bud played an active role in the Yuma Livestock Association, the Yuma County Fair Junior Livestock Committee, the Arizona Quarter Horse Association and the Gila Valley Water District. He served as president of the Yuma County Fair board and was always an active member of the fair’s 4-H livestock events.
He was a “tireless worker and a tireless volunteer.” Bud represents so many of Yuma’s adults who volunteer so much of their time to ensure that the Yuma County Fair is a success.
The Federated Garden Clubs of Yuma will have their flower show in the “big tin” building. “Around the World with Flowers” is the theme; and arrangements representing countries around the world, as well as America and Canada, will be on display. Horticulture specimens will show the public just what can be grown in Yuma. Both the public and garden club members will be vying for the top awards in horticulture and designs. Hope you have a chance to walk through our flower show and enjoy the beauty of nature.
The Federated Garden Club members who are volunteering long hours to ensure our flower show’s success are superintendent Val Colvin; assistants Marilyn Thornbury and Karen Bowen; horticulture chairman Cal Kelley; junior horticulture chairman Willene Calvert; design chairman Mary Lou Milstead; and junior design chairman Willene Calvert.
Along with their leadership, all club members in the four Yuma garden clubs will be volunteering their time to man the flower show and answer any questions the public may have concerning gardening. All flower show entries were judged Tuesday. The flower show will be open to the public and will run until Sunday afternoon.
The fair, which began Tuesday, runs through Sunday, giving the public a choice of days to attend. Hope your family can have some good old-fashioned fun attending the Yuma County Fair this year.
---
Yuma Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting at 1 p.m. April 12 at Sun Leisure Estates club house. Speaker Tina Clark will present an update on activities at the Quartermaster Depot and the East Wetlands Park.
Visitors are always welcome, and refreshments will be served. For directions to the meeting, call Cal Kelley, 581-3981.
---
Karen Bowen is a Master Gardener and member of Yuma Garden Club. She can be reached at bowenkaren@ymail.com. Members of the Federated Garden Clubs of Yuma write articles for this column.
