Fair director resigns; Bartel takes over
STAR-JOURNAL STAFF
Citing health reasons, Marion County Fair Director Pam Riesen has resigned from her position.
Riesen made the decision over the weekend, said Hillsboro resident Vida Bartel, who will take over Riesen's duties as director and manager of the fair.
Managing the county fair is something Bartel is familiar with — she has served as the fair director in the past, she said Tuesday night.
Bartel will also be relying on the assistance of the 23 other fair association board members, as well as Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce secretary Rhonda Toal.
Bartel has only had a few evenings to get acquainted with the fair activities, she said, and she's just now beginning to delve into some of the pre-fair activities.
Riesen had already done much of the "leg work," Bartel said. Much of what's left involves confirming entry judges and superintendents, as well as coordinating with local 4-H groups.
Bartel knows that her task will be tough, since she already works full-time at Parkside Homes. But she says that things should be in place by the Aug. 7 fair start date.
"That's always the hope," she said.
In previous years, Bartel wrote a set of guidelines for fair managers to follow, and she'll utilize that.
"I know what path to walk," she said.
Attempts to reach Pam Riesen by phone Tuesday evening were unsuccessful.
