Meet The Board
John Benner
President
John is the newly elected President of the Fair as of November 2'021. He is also the Animal Extension Agent in Augusta County, Va. and works on his family's cow-calf farm operation in Deerfield, Va. John's interest in the Fair stems from his interest in the farm stems from his interest in agriculture. Jhn is typically found somewhere around the barns during Fair week assisting with the livestock shows "I work to encourage the next generation and foster a love and interest in Agriculture"
Carole Craddock
Vice Presiddent
Carole is a Senior Account Manager for Monticello Media Radio, Digital and Event Marketing Solutions as wells as the newly elected VP of the Fair. Carole helps organize and place the indoor vendors during the Fair. she has four children and eight grandchildren.
Alice Bodkin
Treasurer
Alice has been elected as the new Treasurer in November of 2021. She was the first female Store Manager at Advanced Auto Parts in Va. Her vast flower arranging, cooking and baking skills have served her multi-generational family, church and the Fair for many years.
Betty Burke Turke Burke
Secretary Member
Turke & Betty's neighbor needed some help setting the Fair up years ago. It would not take long, and their grandson gt free ride tickets, so they decided to help. They enjoyed the board members and the excitement of planning a Fair so much, Betty took over the Arts & Crafts department and Turke joined the Board as well. Betty is a housekeeping supervisor at a Senior living center. Turke is in manufactoring at Ball in Verona, Va.
Eric Stogdale
Barn Manager
Eric was born and raised on his family farm in Mt. Sidney, Va. Eric has been an Agriculture Education teacher for 28 years and is currently the Agriculture Teacher and Farm Manager for Massanutten Technical Center. Eric has passed on the torch as President in 2021 and has devoted himself to Barn Commitee Chair.
Kathy Christian
Member
Kathy, her husband John and their three children live and work on their turkey/beef farm. Kathy showed livestock at the Augusta County Fair every year and entered arts and crafts, crops and vegetables, a tradition later continued by her children. She volunteered for and later took over the running of Fair's crops and vegetables department.
Kirk Propst
Member
Kirk is a realtor with Long & Foster Realty. He has been a Board Member since 2009. He is primarily responsible for the Miss Augusta Fair Pageant and supports other departments asneeded.
Michelle Ruebush
Member
Michelle was born and raised in the heart of Augusta County. She married her high school sweetheart, and they have three children who love farming and showing livestock at the Fair. She is currently the VP at Atlantic Union Bank in Verona where she has worked for the past 10 years
Richard Watts
Member
Richard Has lived in Augusta County all his life. His love for family and home inspired him to make a difference in the community by volunteering with the fair committee as well as a local nursing home, where he brings their Sunday morning message. Richard works with Transamerica Agency Network as an advisor and Managing Director.
Kaitlyn Sonifrank
Member
Kaitlyn grew up in Rockingham County before moving to Staunton in 2017. She has been teaching agriculture for the last six years with five of those years being at Riverheads High School. Kaitlyn joined the nFair Board in 2020
Peggy Smith
Member
Peggy is an instructor/trainer at the SAYMCA. She and her husband Jug own a beef cattle farm in Arbor Hill, Va. They have participated and helped with the Fair for many years. Their son & daughter showed and participated in the Fair and were part of Middlebrook Livestock Club. Now their two grandsons participate and show in the Fair. "The Fair has always been important to our family and my favorite part was entering vegetables and crafts in the Fair over the years".
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Ryan Demmng
Member
When you have something immediate to accomplish, it is "Ryan to the rescue" the "Go To Guy". He and hos family take the week of the Fair as "Vacation", and work on the grounds non-stop foe the five days of the Fair. Their dedication to the Fair begins two days prior and after the Fair ends.. Both of his girls have shown animals each year at the barn. Ryan works at Virginia Eagle. Our "go To Guy has ben added to chair of he Track Committee in 200.