2017 Jefferson County Fair dedicated to Dawson, Rennie

The 2017 Jefferson County Fair, A Fair of the Heart, is dedicated to RaeCille Dawson and Dick Rennie, two long-time supporters of the Jefferson County fair and rodeo who passed away this year.

RaeCille Dawson served on the Jefferson County fair board for several years.

A painter and photographer herself, she judged fine arts for several years. A long-time art teacher at Jefferson High School, she always encouraged her students to enter their projects in the fair. Together with her family, she competed in the In-county Wrangler Roundup. In the last few years, she enjoyed seeing her grandson, Kaydin, participate in the kids' parade, kids' horse show and rodeo, and rodeo parade.

"Mom always looked forward to fair and rodeo weekend," said Trudy Dawson, RaeCille's daughter. "She loved seeing everybody getting together and having a good time. For ranchers like ourselves, fair and rodeo time is when we take a break from the hayfields and riding to enjoy being with our friends and neighbors. It's something we look forward to all year."

Dick Rennie attended the fair and rodeo every year since it began 34 years ago.

Before the fair even started, the Rennie family worked with other members and leaders of the Jefferson Rounders 4-H Club to clean out stalls and barns of the newly acquired fairgrounds. Together with his wife, Dixie Rennie, he organized the first kids' horse shows and rodeos. He served for many years as the announcer for the kids' horse show and rodeo.

According to Dixie Rennie, "When he was announcing for the kids' horse show, Dick enjoyed seeing the smiles on the kids' faces as he encouraged them and talked about their families. He liked visiting with everybody at the fair, especially friends he rodeoed with when he was bulldogging. The parade, the wrangler roundup...he enjoyed it all."

Marilyn McCauley, fair board member, said, "The fair board is so grateful for RaeCille and Dick and their contributions to the fair. This is one small way we can acknowledge our wonderful volunteers and what they contribute to making the fair and rodeo a great weekend for our community."