Hopwood man named Friend of the Fair
Wendell Breakiron, left, of Hopwood receives an honor as Friend of the Fair from Fred Strathmeyer Jr., Pennsylvania deputy secretary of agriculture, in the Youth Building during the opening ceremony of the Fayette County Fair. Breakiron has been volunteering for 50 years, serving on boards for the fair and Penn State Extension. Strathmeyer read the commendation, which noted Breakiron's service provides "essential services that allow the fair to remain a showcase of local talent, a celebration of our rural heritage, and a vital tool in connecting farm and fork 鈥� teaching how agriculture provides food, fuel and fiber for our commonwealth and beyond."
Wendell Breakiron, of Hopwood, receives a hug from daughter Charlotte DeCarlo, of New Salem, after receiving an honor as Friend of the Fair for 50 years of volunteer service to the Fayette County Fair. Breakiron has served on boards for the Fayette County Fair and Penn State Extension. Breakiron said, "When they need something done, they call me.''
For 50 years, Wendell Breakiron has given of his time to the Fayette County Fair.
Now the fair and the state have offered their thanks by naming the Hopwood man a Friend of the Fair.
鈥淚 was surprised. I didn鈥檛 expect it,鈥� said Breakiron, 82, who received the recognition to a round of applause at the Youth Building during Thursday蘑菇视频 opening ceremony for the 63rd annual fair.
Friend of the Fair is an honor awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to recognize individuals for their hard work and dedication to the state蘑菇视频 109 fairs. At the Fayette County Fair, the honor is kept secret until revealed each year at the opening ceremony.
Fred Strathmeyer Jr., deputy secretary of agriculture, made the announcement, noting Breakiron is a long-time volunteer who蘑菇视频 been a member of the fair board and watched his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren become involved in agriculture and 4-H.
A long-time farmer and retired carpenter, Breakiron became involved with the fair when the oldest of his four children started in 4-H. Breakiron and his late wife, Garnet, had four children, including Cindy Geller of Maryland, Randy Breakiron of Hopwood, Charlotte DeCarlo of New Salem and Laura Rockwell of Uniontown.
Geller, who traveled in for the ceremony, commented, 鈥淗e蘑菇视频 had four kids, four grandkids and two great-grandkids involved in 4-H.鈥�
She noted her father蘑菇视频 many years of volunteer work at the 4-H refreshment stand, which raises money during the fair to support the county蘑菇视频 4-H program.
鈥淗is number-one job was cooking fried dough for 4-H,鈥� said Geller, smiling as both she and her father remembered customers who would only purchase friend dough if Breakiron cooked it.
DeCarlo said, 鈥淐indy started 4-H in 1968 and my daughter Toni蘑菇视频 last year in 4-H is next year so he will have sat through 50 years of livestock shows.鈥�
During this time, Breakiron served many years on boards for both the county fair and Penn State Extension, including involvement in scholarship and development committees.
Geller and DeCarlo also noted that Breakiron used to drive the van to pick up the fair蘑菇视频 entertainment headliners at local hotels when they were scheduled to perform.
Bill Jackson, fair board president, said the Friend of Fair honor was well deserved.
鈥淲endell served years on the board. He chaired the buildings and grounds committee and was involved in 4-H and the extension, which has ties to the fair,鈥� said Jackson. 鈥淗e蘑菇视频 been very involved in some of our building projects and very involved in the agriculture community and supportive in a number of ways.鈥�
Jackson noted the Friend of the Fair honor recognizes people who are dedicated to the fair in a number of ways.
鈥淟ast year, Jim Davies (of Davies Ford in Connellsville) was recognized. He蘑菇视频 been a sponsor for a lot of years and has contributed to the financial well being of the fair.鈥�
And Breakiron is still contributing.
鈥淚 was here the other day putting molding on a door. Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?鈥� he asked.
When fair board treasurer John Blaney of Franklin Township stopped by to offer his congratulations, Breakiron reminded him, 鈥淚f you need something done, you call me.鈥�