For the Montgomery County Fair Association, the month of August marks a time to celebrate the achievements of the 2023 fair while kicking off planning for the 2024 event.
On Aug. 12, the fair association hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the Lone Star Convention Center in Conroe.
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Montgomery County Fair Association Executive Director Brian Hayes said the casino-themed event was well attended with more than 400 fair supporters coming together.
During the evening’s events, several awards were given including one for Lifetime Executive Committee Status and the two committeemen of the year.
Charlie Musgrove has been a board member for the fair for more than 20 years. The last 15 years he has served on the fair’s executive committee thus earning him Lifetime Executive Committee Status.
He was presented a plaque for this achievement at the dinner.
“He’s still very active on committees and his wife, Lisa, is on the board of directors. They are a great family to have involved with the fair,” Hayes said.
Shannon Koy and Bill Bowen were awarded “Committeemen of the Year” recognitions.
“These individuals are people who are really committed to the fair year-round,” Hayes said.
Koy is a board member, is involved with the fair’s junior committee, the fair queen’s contest and works with various livestock groups leading up to the fair, during the event and after.
Her daughters were involved in the fair and the whole Koy family is involved in the fair, Hayes said.
“She’s one of those people who makes a difference in our organization year-round and she’s an extremely valuable asset,” Hayes said.
Bowen has been involved with the fair for a decade and on a committee for the past six years.
He was invited to be on a Montgomery County Fair barbecue cook-off team by his neighbor Todd Green, past-president of the fair, roughly 20 years ago.
Bowen has previously coached youth sports and been involved with youth at his church. He stepped away from those and Green recruited him to volunteer at the fair in 2018.
He works with the special projects committee.
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Bowen said the special projects committee works on items that need to be built or physical improvements on the fairgrounds.
He was a part of a team that built several custom-made “people hauler” trailers the first year he was on the special projects committee. The special trailers offer people a ride from the parking lots at the fair.
The group also builds the information booths, takes care of water issues on the grounds and all the handyman work needed on the grounds, he said.
Bowen also heads up the sound committee for all the events during the fair.
“Its always about the kids. I enjoy giving back to the community through the kids,” he said.
Next up at the fair, Hayes said registration is open for the Oct. 19 golf tournament benefiting the fair organization. The event is set at the Panorama Golf Club.
Also open are applications for the fair’s junior committee and for the fair queen contest.
Hayes said the fair entertainment will be announced Feb. 1.
The 2024 fair is set for April 11-21 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
Visit the fair website for more on the 2024 event.
