Labor of Love Keeps Fair Volunteers Down on the Farm

Leo Vanoni has been volunteering with the Ventura County Fair’s 4-H and barnyard animal exhibits for nearly 40 years and has no plans to stop.

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“It gets in your blood,” said the retired Somis citrus and avocado rancher. “It’s part of me. Mainly, I just love the kids who come in, and I love seeing kids who have grown up and are bringing their kids in.”

Come Aug. 16, the 79-year-old Vanoni and his wife, Rita, 73, will park their trailer at the fairgrounds for the length of the 12-day fair. They will oversee Uncle Leo’s Barnyard, a farm animal exhibit they have been running since 1958.

Their children and grandchildren are continuing the tradition, working alongside the couple.

The elder Vanonis and another two dozen old-timers have dedicated more than three decades to judging, coordinating exhibits and training youths to raise animals, sew clothes and perform other creative tasks.

Volunteers are critical to the fair’s operation, said General Manager Michael Paluszak.

In their honor, fair officials will host a reception today for more than 80 volunteers who have devoted from five to more than 45 years helping out at the yearly event.

Among those to be honored for at least 35 years of service will be Rita Vanoni and Fillmore octogenarians George and Marie Merriken.

“Without the volunteers, we simply couldn’t exist,” Paluszak said. “Volunteers really are the foundation of the fair. They volunteer with enthusiasm, devotion and love of the fair. They are interested in showcasing the community.

“We enjoy an enormous volunteer base, but we’ll always take [more] volunteers. We never run out of things for them to do. The more volunteers we have, the more we can do.”

Throughout the fair, more than 3,000 people are expected to volunteer their time and labor, Paluszak said. Volunteers, current and future, are welcome at the 2 p.m. reception at the Agriculture Building, Seaside Park, 10 W. Harbor Blvd.

The Merrikens, retired citrus ranchers, first volunteered with 4-H exhibits 49 years ago. This year, Marie Merriken, 84, will judge clothing competitions with Rita Vanoni, while George Merriken, 86, will judge entomology (insect) contests.

“I enjoy helping and trying to pay for my keep on this planet,” George Merriken said. “We’re passing on what we’ve been taught.”

Judging allows volunteers to track entrants’ progress, according to the Merrikens.

“When you judge the clothing, you have to judge the whole thing--turn it inside out, turn it over, get the whole picture,” Marie Merriken said. “I like to see the improvements over the years and to see the work that is put into the clothing.”

Lena Simitzi, who will mark her 52nd year of fair work this season, has the longest volunteer record.

“The fair’s a community project, and it brings people together,” said Simitzi, 85, who will be a hostess in the Professional Arts Building this year.

Simitzi has judged, coordinated or overseen exhibits on fine arts, professional arts, baking, table-setting and even buttons.

During her half a century of fair work, she has entered only one contest--cookie baking. She lost that competition 47 years ago.

“I never entered anything again,” Simitzi said. “I guess it hurt my feelings. But I’ve volunteered to do about everything else. It’s wonderful to be involved.”

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FYI

To volunteer for the Ventura County Fair, call 648-3376. The fair will run Aug. 16-27 at Seaside Park Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura. Fairgrounds open at 11 a.m. daily, and exhibits close at 10 p.m.