BCYF Celebrates Fair Year
Published: Friday, November 4, 2022
Just about 100 assn. members, advisors and guests gathered to recap the Berrien County Youth Fair Assn.'s 2021-22 fiscal year and celebrate exceptional 4-H leaders last Tuesday night at the annual meeting held at the Youth Memorial Building.
President Corey Burks welcomed everyone to the 77th annual meeting of the Berrien County Youth Fair Assn. Inc.
"We had quite a fair in 2022. We had perfect weather, great attendance and reunion with our fair family." Burks said.
He thanked the board of directors for their input and the contributions of the volunteers.
The minutes of the 2021 annual meeting were presented and approved. Tyson Lemon, board treasurer, presented the annual financial report. He reported the Assn.'s total operating income of $1,865,716 and total operating expenditures of $1,447,962 resulting in a net revenue of $417,755. "The BCYF had strong financial results for the year ending 9-30-22. The assn. remains in sound financial position," he said.
The financial report was put on file for audit.
Secretary and Fair Manager Karen Klug commented on what was new in 2022. Annual meeting room layout was new since Junior Achievement Finance Park is set up in the YMB auditorium for the third time –a non-fair rental. New drainage and footing was added to the Jack Dean, Jack Dean make-up and Julie Hein make up horse rings. Some things included: pole tents were added to the equipment of BCYF this year, an ABI 10 foot Dragmaster and new John Deere 5055E tractor were added in June, back to Berrien Futurity was a new event on new surveillance cameras were added to all entrance gates, a memorial chainsaw-carved crane bench in the mall and a new junior fair board.
Linda Shinsky, Historical Committee chair, and the Historical Committee were presented a Milestone award from the Historical society of Michigan by Sharon Carlson, past president of the society. Shinsky and the committee submitted an application for the award for organizations with "more than 50 years of continuous operation in service to the people of Michigan and contributing to the growth and vitality of our state."
Kelly Ewalt introduced the inaugural BCYF junior fair board. There are nine members ranging in age from 15-23 and will serve in three-year terms rotating. Aiden Conley, Suzy Markle, Maya Schmidt, Madalynn
Schmidt, Sarah Jackemeyer, Daniel McKee, Nikki Smith, Marissa Freehling and Elizabeth King will serve as ambassadors of BCYF and will be future leaders.
The 2022 BCYF theme was "Red, White and Blue in 2022." The weather was phenomenal all week until the last 10 minutes before the gates closed on Saturday night. 2022 attendance was 105,230 (down 102 from 2021), 1,695 (up 203) exhibitors and 12,174 (up 3,048) exhibits.
Each year, six members of the board of directors are elected for a three-year term. The following were nominated and elected for a three-year term: Kelly Ewalt of Berrien Springs, Tyson Lemon of Stevensville, Bob Mischke of St. Joseph, Linda Shinsky of Niles, Les Smith of Niles and Dan Stacey of Berrien Springs.
The Outstanding 20 Year-Old Exhibitor award winner was Karen Smith of Stevensville. Selection of this award is based on a point system covering youth fair participation and volunteering other than Fair week over the last six years of exhibiting.
Smith received a trophy and $300 scholarship award provided by the D. R. Potts Memorial Scholarship Fund. In second place and receiving a $200 scholarship award was Sydney Melton of Baroda and in third place, receiving a $100 scholarship award was Abby Kuespert of Niles.
The Friend of the Fair award was presented to Nancy Wuszke and Duane and Derrick Miller. This award is given annually to those individuals, families, and/or businesses that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help with the many activities at the Youth Fair.
Duane and Derrick were recognized for coordinating and putting up and taking down the pole tents in 2022. Mrs. Wuszke was recognized for her donation of a used John Deere gator.
Following the annual meeting, the board of directors met to select officers for the 2022-23 year.
The 2022-2023 Officers elected included: President Corey Burks of Berrien Springs, first vice president, Noreen Soos of Berrien Springs, second vice president, Rob Christner of Berrien Springs, secretary, Karen Klug of Eau Claire and treasurer, Tyson Lemon of Stevensville.
The 2023 youth fair dates are Aug. 14-19.
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