Good people make the fair happen

There's a sense of impending doom in the Banner Graphic newsroom this time of year.

It's not so much that we hate the county fair, as we sometimes claim, we just disklike the unending busyness and exhaustion that comes with it.

This year comes with a special sort of dread, though. While part of that is the broken air conditioner here at the office, in more fair-related matters, we are not looking forward to being without Mark Evans.

Since replacing Lauralee Baugh as Putnam County extension director and 4-H youth educator, Evans has kind of been our go-to guy.

Looking for some much-needed 4-H results? Call Mark.

Need a barn superintendent's phone number? Call Mark.

Need passes for your staff because a fair board member didn't come through for you? Where's Mark's number?

What makes us a little uneasy this year is that Evans will not be around at all. A pair of medical concerns have him laid up at his busiest time of year.

Wondering what we'll do without Mark, our staff -- and the rest of this fair-loving county -- should remember one thing: We have one of the best fairs in the state. That was the case long before Mark Evans came here, and we hope it will continue someday when he retires.

This year we have a test run for that premise.

At about 3 p.m. Thursday, one of our staff members visited the exhibit hall. It was chaos. (See page 1A) With 28 or so hours until the fair's official start, there was much work to be done.

In the midst of all this, though, were loyal extension employees like Kristy Straziscar, Kim Beadles, Jenna Nees, along with a platoon of loyal volunteers.

Were these overworked folks panicking? Nope. They were calmly doing their work, with the calmness of a surgeon and the patience of ... well, of Mark Evans.

Mark's absence will absolutely be noticed this year but rest assured, the fair is in good hands.