Eastern Idaho State Fair recognizes three as ‘Friends of the Fair’ for 2024

The pursuing is simply a news merchandise from nan Eastern Idaho State Fair.

BLACKFOOT — Starting successful 2023, nan Eastern Idaho State Fair has honored up to 3 group annually who person importantly contributed to nan Fair and its cherished traditions of family, community, and difficult work. This twelvemonth is nary exception, and nan EISF is proud to admit Marcene Freeman, Lyla Morgan, and Bob Layton arsenic nan 2024 Friends of nan Fair.

The Eastern Idaho State Fair, a beloved nine-day ceremony of community, culture, and agriculture, is simply a item of nan twelvemonth for many. Most adjacent patrons don’t recognize nan dedication and difficult activity of nan full-time, year-round labor who guarantee nan Fair’s seamless operation. Among these dedicated individuals are Marcene Freeman and Lila Morgan, each of whom devoted decades of their careers to nan Fair.

Marcene Freeman and Lyla Morgan

Marcene Freeman’s travel pinch nan Eastern Idaho State Fair lasted 18 years, and during that time, she brought a wealthiness of organizational skills and a passion for serving her community. Responsible for coordinating each nan vendors and concessionaires, Marcene meticulously worked pinch each personification to make their clip astatine nan Fair arsenic easy arsenic possible. Her committedness to excellence helped nan Fair turn successful size and reputation. Marcene’s expertise to juggle galore tasks pinch a grin endeared her to colleagues and fairgoers alike. Her tireless efforts down nan scenes ensured that each visitant knowledgeable nan magic of nan Fair without a hitch. Even nan twelvemonth it snowed during adjacent week, she had to locomotion astir to guarantee each nan vendors were equipped to grip nan unexpected weather.

“The group are what make nan adjacent fun. It’s astounding really galore group are consenting to dedicate their clip and effort to making judge nan Fair is nan champion 9 days it tin be,” said Freeman. “Now that I’m retired, I’m having nosy pinch my kids and grandkids, but I miss seeing nan adjacent people.”

Lyla Morgan started astatine nan summons agency astatine a clip erstwhile nan summons income were truthful acold distant from nan beforehand agency that labor had to beryllium escorted to nan summons agency and locked successful for safety. After she had vanished moving successful nan summons agency for 15 years, she took a domiciled successful nan beforehand agency and was nan backbone of nan beforehand desk, fielding each questions pinch friends and knowledgeable answers. Her joke and kindness made her nan cleanable personification to shake hands adjacent patrons for 15 much years until 2020. Lyla served a captious domiciled during nan adjacent week by greeting everyone who came into nan office. If she didn’t cognize really to thief you, she would beryllium judge to find retired and link you pinch those who could assist. Fair General Manager Brandon Bird called her nan hub of everything successful nan agency during nan period starring up to nan Fair and during Fair week. Her problem-solving skills and hands-on attack resolved countless last-minute challenges, ensuring nan Fair ran smoothly. Lyla was seen arsenic a comfortableness to her coworkers because they knew she had truthful overmuch knowledge astir nan Fair that everything would beryllium okay.

“Both Lyla and Marcene ne'er seemed to beryllium rattled by nan agelong hours and provided invaluable support to nan Fair and its mission,” said Bird. “I miss them both; they are a large portion of nan Fair’s heritage.”

Bob Layton

Robert Layton, Bob, arsenic astir group person addressed him, passed distant this past year. The Eastern Idaho State Fair is recognizing Bob arsenic a Friend of nan Fair for 2024 posthumously for his contributions to nan Fair for complete 40+ years arsenic Auditor of Operations.

Historically, nan Layton family has been assisting nan Fair since Bob’s dad, Lloyd Ralphs, was nan Fair Auditor and Auditor of Operations successful nan precocious 1970s. Bob became nan Auditor of Operations soon aft and held that position for 40+ years.

Bob coordinated overmuch of nan behind-the-scenes workload related to what has historically been a cash-heavy business. The hours moving during Fairweek were long, moving precocious into nan night/early morning. While moving down nan scenes, Bob would touch astir each facet of nan Fair business that needed money. Because of that interaction, 1 of Bob’s favourite things astir moving astatine nan Fair was nan lifelong friendships he developed complete nan years pinch Fair employees, concessionaires, security, and patrons. The Layton family said Bob ever talked astir nan memorable precocious nights counting money and Pepsi Carnival Coupons.

Bob’s son, Ian Layton, took complete arsenic auditor of Fair Operations successful 2023 and has worked alongside his begetter since 2010. Fair General Manager Brandon Bird said of Bob, “There are galore unsung heroes of nan Fair whose contributions are seldom recognized but lend greatly to its success. Bob was 1 of those whose contributions we admit coming arsenic a Friend of nan Fair.”

All 3 of these individuals embody nan tone of nan Eastern Idaho State Fair. Their tireless efforts, often unnoticed by nan public, importantly contributed to nan occurrence of nan Fair.