Tiedt, Nemmers honored by GJCF at kickoff event

     The weather on June 13 was uncharacteristically fair-like weather, but made for a great kickoff for the 2018 Great Jones County Fair.

     The annual event took place at the new Equestrian Center. Food was served inside, with attendees and festivities held under the horse arena.

     GJCF General Manager John Harms thanked all of those who support the fair year after year.

     “To our sponsors, thank-you just isn’t good enough,” he said. “You certainly are the backbone of why this fair is what it is today. It’s certainly good to be surrounded by so many really fine people.”

     At every kickoff event, the fair acknowledged the Friend of the Fair and inducted an honoree into the GJCF Hall of Fame.

     “These recipients have always been people who have been an important part of what we do and our success and what goes on here at the GJCF,” said Harms.

     This year’s HOF recipient was Lowell Tiedt, or Command Sgt. Major Lowell Tiedt.

     Harms shared that, unbeknownst to some, Tiedt served his country in the military and earned the highest rank one can earn, that of an E9. “There is no E10, so that tells you where he’s at in his rank,” praised Harms.

     Harms said from the moment Tiedt and his family moved to Jones County, he’s “been on a fast track to make our community better by taking part in a variety of things.”

     Tiedt’s leadership speaks for itself with service to the Anamosa School Board, GJCF governing board, Extension Council, and 4-H superintendent for the Iowa State Fair.

     “While serving as (Anamosa) school board president, financing was secured and a new middle school and athletic complex was built,” noted Harms.

     Tiedt, an acclaimed college wrestler at Upper Iowa University, was inducted into the school’s hall of fame.

     “Our man has also shown leadership in every activity and program that he’s ever been associated with,” Harms praised.

     Tiedt said the recognition certainly caught him off guard. “It’s a tribute to all of you,” said Tiedt. “It’s my honor and distinction here to help everyone that I can, young people who are exhibiting, whether it’s the GJCF or State Fair. This is where it all starts.”

     This year’s FOF honor went to long-time fair photographer Ron Nemmers. Harms said Nemmers’ view of the fair is quite different from that of the normal fairgoer.

     After Nemmers stepped down from the fair’s board of directors, “he remained the key person to retain our history and tell our story through the lens of a camera,” spoke Harms.

     Sixteen years ago, Nemmers started capturing the fair’s history, and became the official photographer for the GJCF Queen Pageant.

     “Another important part of what he saw through his camera were dozens of singers who took time for that one snapshot for hundreds of star-struck fans who got that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be caught in the frame with their favorite singer,” said Harms.

     Nemmers still remains a sponsor of the fair, and supports the Open Exhibit photography contest.

     Throughout his fair coverage, Harms shared one story that got a laugh from the crowd. “Perhaps his only disappointment was being sternly instructed by the road manager of Carrie Underwood that he could, in no circumstances, take pictures of Carrie below her waist. Now that’s one photo that would certainly be priceless!”

     Nemmers said he’s enjoyed photographing the fair for so many years. “I don’t plan on retiring for a long time,” he said.

     While the fair kickoff is certainly a celebration in anticipation for the Five Best Days of Summer, Harms felt compelled to make everyone aware of the potential for disaster.

     While weather is always a factor during fair week, the disaster that Harms pointed to was terrorism and mass shootings.

     In October 2017, one of this year’s entertainers, Jason Aldean, was performing on stage in Las Vegas when a shooter opened fire on the crowd.

     “It’s those kinds of things out there in the mass-people world that is making us look at things differently,” warned Harms. “With active shooters, I’ll be the first to say that it’ll never happen here. It just can’t, right? The thing we don’t want to do is neglect the study of the potential.”

     Harms, Monticello Police Chief Britt Smith and County Sheriff Greg Graver have been in talks about how to handle the potential at the GJCF, where a mass of people gather for five days out of the summer. “We’ve already started thinking about what we can do. The worst thing that we don’t want is to have something happen and have a camera stuck in our face & have them ask us what did you do, how could you have prevented this.”

     Harms said much of what will take place will happen behind the scenes, much of which will go unnoticed by the average fairgoer.

     “But I can tell you that the security involved and law enforcement officials that we surround ourselves with at this fair are very serious about the potential, even here in the middle of a farm field in Eastern Iowa,” Harms said. “So just know that we are making the provisions to do some things that we have not done before.”

     Harms said he doesn’t want invoke mass hysteria, but just telling people to be aware. “The threat is out there; it is real. We’re thinking about you.”

     Aside from the fair awards and announcements, the seven candidates vying for 2018 GJCF Queen were introduced: Rachel Ross, Lisbon; Jabezz Husmann, Cascade; Hannah Wall, Monticello; Jessie Welter, Monticello; Sydney Ballou, Monticello; Taylor Cruise, Monticello; and Marissa Recker, Monticello.

     This is the 19^th year for the Queen Pageant, led by Marcia Kray. “That’s longer than some of these finalists have been alive,” joked Kray.

     Extension Director Jennifer Fischer, in her second year in the role, introduced the new 4-H Youth Program Coordinator Molly Schmitt.

     Schmitt comes from Fayette County, with nine years of involvement in 4-H and FFA herself.

     “I also have a huge dairy background, and I am excited to work with all of you,” said Schmitt.