Jack Rishel
2019 Friend of the Fair
August 2019 — Jack Rishel enjoyed the fair growing up and felt the call to help when he became an adult. His wife Carol stated that they had been married 55 years and he had been a fair member most of their married life (over 45 years).
Throughout the years, Mr. Rishel has served as the Superintendent of the Rabbit barn, worked on the Grounds Keeping crew, assisted with the Dairy Show and served numerous terms as a director. Always the calm during a storm, Mr. Rishel showed balance and outstanding judgment when making decisions. Jack has helped every year in the food barn and he and his wife Carol have supplied baked goods to sell, particularly their delicious whoopie pies.
Jack has always been a loving husband and an adoring, supportive father, grandfather and great grandfather and enjoys spending time with his family. He is very proud of the accomplishments of those three generations not only within the fair but in their everyday lives. When younger, Jack and Carol’s children became involved in 4-H and later became leaders. For many years the 4-H meetings were held at their farm on Pleasant Ridge Road.
Jack is very active in his church community at the West End Bible Fellowship, helping with the Food Pantry, maintenance and other jobs that come up throughout the year. Additionally, he is a great help to his neighbors by lending a hand whenever he can.
Earl James (Jim) and Florence Boop
2018 Friend of the Fair
August 2018 — Jim had been a fair member for so long that no one can really remember when he started. Jim makes his way around the fair helping wherever he is needed including the construction of the stage roof and our beautiful show arena. He works with the Lions Club Bingo and enjoys “ruffling the ladies feathers” with his wonderful sense of humor.
Jim is dedicated to helping future agriculturists by attending the Livestock Sale and purchasing animals. His purchases have helped many children build their future in farming or with college expenses.
In the 1980’s, Florence (Floss) would help with the manual entry of exhibits and typing the exhibit tags and judges’ sheets. When the fair began using computers, Floss would help in the office, handing out tickets and answering phones. She always greets you with a lovely smile and kind words.
In addition to her office duties, Floss helped bake pies and cakes in the Lutheran Church Stand took orders and served food during the week of the fair. If her children couldn’t find her there, she was probably in the Mifflinburg Band Boosters stand when her 3 daughters were active in the band.