The Holbrook Chamber of Commerce this month kicks off its calendar of community events under the guidance of its new director, Holbrook native Billie Anne Perkins.

A fourth-generation Holbrook native, Perkins says she relishes taking on her new role, particularly with the Navajo County Fair underway this week in her hometown.

“I was born and raised here. My great-grandpa, Cephas Ford, moved here in the 1800s when it was called Horsehead Crossing. Cephas Alphaeus Perkins was my grandpa, and Bill Perkins is my dad. I grew up doing all sorts of fundraising. Being at the fairgrounds 24/7 during fair week is like being at home for me,” she noted.

Of this week’s events Perkins relates, “I hope that we have great success because, along with this being my first event with the chamber, it was a last-minute decision for the chamber to (exhibit at) the fair. they secured the booth the day before I started.”

Perkins explained that her first priority once on board was to arrange and secure the chamber’s many raffle prizes currently up for grabs.

“We have a 60” TV, a 27.5” mountain bike, a Bushnell rifle scope, a $100 gift card from Safeway, a $100 gift card from the TA Truck Stop and a lot of gift certificates from area restaurants,” she pointed out.

Perkins’ 7-year-old son is a scheduled performer in the fair lineup, set to compete as a calf rider in the Little Buckaroo Rodeo on Saturday, Sept. 19, and helped kick off the event singing as a Park Performer during Wednesday’s grand opening. He took home a second place ribbon in last year’s rodeo.

Perkins welcomes city residents and visitors to stop by the fair’s exhibit hall this weekend and meet her personally. She also says that, in addition to the upcoming Festival of Lights and Navajo County Sheriff’s Hashknife Posse Pony Express, Holbrook’s citizens have much more to look forward to on the events horizon. “My goal is to do a lot. I want us to make a showing at other events nearby to bring revenue to our community,” she said.

For chamber events and information, contact Perkins by phone at (928) 524-6558 or (928) 241-3311, or by email at admin@ holbrookcommerce.org.