Fair honors favorite ‘Bud’
Board remembers longtime member with memorials
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BAZETTA -- Memorials from a banner at the front entrance of the fairgrounds grandstand, a truck-and- tractor-pull competition event, and several gardens have been dedicated in memory of Harry "Bud" Rodgers Jr.
Rodgers served as a member of the Trumbull County Fair Board for 37 years until his death Feb. 1 at age 64.
Kierstin Holmes, fair board director and secretary, said the opening ceremony for the fair Tuesday included a memorial for Rodgers who also was fair board president for seven years.
"We all miss Bud. He is definitely missed by many. The grandstand and the events here is what he is known for," Holmes said.
Rodgers knew the track so well he was the one to set it up for the fair, but his knowledge did stop there. He also knew how everything else needed to go for the fair to run, Homes said.
It was an adjustment in the time leading up to this year's event, she said.
"It has been a learning experience for everybody this year. We are all learning how to do the track," Holmes said.
The sign at the grandstand main entrance was completed a week ago and donated by Mike Ady Excavating.
Holmes said that the truck and tractor pull at 6 p.m. today will now be known as the "Bud Rodgers Memorial Truck and Tractor Pull," which was what he was known for.
"He was always into the racing and truck and tractor pull at the grandstand," she said.
Holmes said she misses Rodgers and got to know him more last year during her first year on the fair board.
"He helped me out and would help anyone out," she said.
There is also a garden with orange flowers and a banner with his picture located by the grandstand track in Rodgers' memory.
"Bud's colors were orange and chrome,'' she said.
A plaque hangs at the junior fair board office, honoring Rodgers.
Sydney Collins, a junior fair board member and treasurer, said, "He always helped the junior fair board so much. He was one of the people who always wanted to help us and make sure we had everything we needed. We wanted to have something to commemorate him," she said.
Collins said orange was selected because it's the color of Rodger's towing company, Bud's Towing in Fowler.
LAST SPELLING BEE
The Trumbull Retired Teachers Association held its last spelling bee at the fairgrounds on Thursday, after 38 years.
Gary Peacock, bee chairman, with Ava Bloom as co-chairwoman, said he always was impressed by how many of the students came back year after year.
"It is very rewarding to see how they progress," he said.
Peacock said there have been declining participants in recent years and fewer seventh and eighth graders, and that had a part in making the decision.
Peacock said the fair always gave the spellers who pre-registered free admission to the fair.
"I have always enjoyed seeing the excitement of the spellers. There is so much excitement when they win."
Denise Deltondo, a former spelling bee chairperson for 15 years who would say the words for the spellers, said the first spelling bee was held at the fair in 1986 and was co-sponsored by the TRTA and the Trumbull County Historical Village Association, which was begun by Bessie Vargo.
The historical village consists of the stage where the spelling bee is held.
Deltondo said the first bee to be sponsored solely by TRTA was in 2007.
"We have had contestants from local schools as well as from as far away as Florida and Virginia, Cincinnati and Brunswick. We have even had several contestants who have represented The Tribune Chronicle at the Scripps National Spelling Bee," she said.
Deltondo said she remembers one year there was a bad storm so the bee was moved inside the 4-H building.
"It was held rain or shine," she said.
This year's spelling bee winners are Aubriella Bernhard, first grade; Addyson Price, second grade; Casen Bernhard, third grade; Aurora Cobb, fourth grade; Myra Miranda, fifth grade; and Juniper Marr, sixth grade.