The Navajo County Fair Board filled five vacancies and elected officers during the annual meeting held Jan. 5. There was a notable increase in attendance for this meeting as 66 people signed in to participate in the election process. Of the six candidates vying for a position on the board, the five selected included the four board members hoping to retain their seats, including Jimmy Crosby, Melissa Buckley, who was not in attendance, Jake Hatch and Terry Nelson.
In addition, previous board member Rusty DeSpain was also elected. DeSpain was on the board for 18 years, eight of them as president, but resigned from the board two years ago. He explained at the meeting that his work as fire chief of the Joseph City Fire Department had demanded his attention at the time, but that he now felt those issues had been resolved.
It was apparent by the results of the voting that a majority those present were there in support of DeSpain. He received a total of 48 votes, nine more than Crosby and Nelson who each received 39. Hatch received 36 votes; Buckley, 33; and Kayde Wilkins, 22.
After the election for board members was complete, the board conducted the election for officers. Mike Sample was selected as president; Jimmy Crosby, vice president; Buckley, secretary and Kelly Favro, treasurer.
As outgoing President Mike Mellor relinquished his seat to the new president, he thanked the board members for their hard work and dedication to the fairgrounds and the Navajo County Fair. “This is a great organization and it’s been a pleasure working with the board. You have to be committed and passionate in order to do this and you are. I believe this last fair has been our most successful, and I’m proud to say that we were able to put money in the bank without taking from our savings,” stated Mellor, who has plans to move to Utah in the near future.
As the board adjourned from the annual meeting and reconvened into a regular meeting under the new board, Mellor was asked to discuss a recent meeting regarding placement of a metal building donated by the county.
Mellor explained the meeting with the county’s Building and Grounds Department was productive, but placement for the building was not determined. “There is no location on the grounds that really works for the size of the building. I even thought of using it as a replacement for the cantina to include seating, but realized it would be too far from the grandstands for visitors to walk,” he said.
The board agreed to table the item regarding placement of the building until a decision could be made on what to do regarding the cantina.
“Mark Reynolds (ofthe Building and Grounds Department) said he would put together some bids to revamp the cantina. It may involve raising the floor, rewiring or maybe tearing the whole thing down. I’m big on metal buildings because they’re easier to deal with and last a long time, but that will cost some money, but money will need to go into this,” stated Mellor. He added that the bids will be presented to the board when available, but regardless of the outcome, no work will be done to the cantina until this year’s fair is over.
The Navajo County Fair Board of Directors includes (front row, left to right) Valerie Slade, Jake Hatch, Susan Henning-Shaw, (back row) Jimmy Crosby, Terry Nelson, Redgie Justman, Kelly Favro, Sara Hansen, Rusty DeSpain, Wes DeSpain, Leah Thomas, Mike Sample and (not pictured) Melissa Buckley.
