Claire Winings, Romalia Family capture fair Family Fun Day awards

Showing off a bright neon green Coach purse, First Runner-up Miss Putnam County Bree Mahoney-Sutherland helps solicit bids from the purse auction audience at Family Fun Day Wednesday afternoon at the Putnam County Fair.

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Somewhere Edith and Noble Fry are smiling.

And why wouldn’t they be. Claire Winings has that effect on people.

Winings, who can lift your spirits with a smile or the twinkle in her eye, was presented the Edith and Noble Fry Memorial Award Wednesday during Family Fun Day at the 2022 Putnam County Fair.

Awards went to the Romalia Family (above, from left Marsha, Haylee, Matt and Jennifer) for Spirit of the Fair and Claire Winings (below) as the Edith and Noble Fry Memorial Award winner during Family Fun Day festivities Wednesday at the 2022 Putnam County Fair.

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Meanwhile, the program’s other major award, the Spirit of the Fair honor, was presented to the Romalia Family of Greencastle, including Adult Open Class (AOC) superintendent Jennifer Romalia, her brother Matt and their parents, John and Marsha Romalia.

Presenter Kelly Robertson called Winings “one of the most happy gals many of us have the privilege to call a friend.”

“She’s always on the go,” Robertson added, “whether it’s speeding up the county roads in her little red car to attend one of her many club meetings or spreading smiles and happiness when she ‘clowns’ around.”

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Winings, whose clown name is “Twinkle Eyes,” says she likes “to make everyone laugh” and stresses that “we need more laughs.”

During the height of Covid concerns, Winings even dressed up in her clown gear and drove around northern Putnam County neighborhoods to cheer up shut-ins and those hibernating.

The Fry Award came as a surprise to Winings, who is a past president and “dedicated helper” for the Adult Open Class section of the fair. As she was getting her picture taken with her plaque, she noticed that her family had gathered in the back of the room on the east side of the Community Building to witness the moment, and emotions took over.

Among the activities was a four-team Friendly Feud version of the TV show “Family Feud” in which emcee Jeff Rich poses the toss-up question to Kelly Robertson (left) of the Small Town Girls and Madison Beaty of the Heritage Heartland Homemakers. The Small Town Girls emerged as champions.

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For the Romalias, getting the building ready for the fair has been a family effort, Jennifer Romalia acknowledged.

In making the presentation, Robertson assured that “the family we are honoring wouldn’t be complete without two special gals who are no strangers to AOC. They are superintendents of building projects, they co-chaired the AOC building responsibilities and are often found together.”

They, of course, are Jennifer and Marsha Romalia.

And as Family Fun Day -- hosted by the Putnam County Photography Club with assistance from the Cloverdale Daytime Darlings -- ended for 2022, the Romalia women could be found right in the thick of things, keeping track of the totals and accepting payment from the purse auction winners. They even donated purses for the auction, including a Harry Potter-themed bag and contents all purchased in England or Scotland on Marsha’s trip earlier this year.

In all, 27 purses were sold, generating more than $4,100 with a Michael Kors purse, the last one sold, bringing in the highest return at $595.

In lieu of a Family Fun Day speaker or fashion show this year, four teams of homemakers participated in a knockoff version of “Family Feud” called Friendly Feud with Jeff Rich serving as emcee.

Emerging as the champions of Friendly Feud were the Small Town Girls with Kelly Robertson, Megan Robertson and Vonda Phelps as contestants.