A Press Release from the Lockwood Agency
The Tulare County Fair has selected dairyman Joe Airosa of Tulare as the grand marshal for the centennial celebration parade on opening day, Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Airosa has been involved in the fair, 4H and FFA for 65 years, he estimates. He showed livestock as a high school student in the 1950s, served as a 4H leader in the 1970s and 1980s, and showed his children, grandchildren, nephews, friends and neighborhood kids how to raise and show livestock.
“I made a living with animals – I have a passion for them and I get a lot of satisfaction out of working with kids, helping them learn about the real world,” Airosa said.” They learn it’s a lot of hard work, they lose sleep and don’t always win, but it’s an important education for them.”
In addition to showing and instructing kids in the livestock rings, Airosa was very involved and supportive of the replacement heifer sale from its beginning, and served as chairman one year. He also exhibited his own hogs and dairy cattle in the senior open division, and was one of the founders of a car club that started the first Destruction Derby in 1964.
“Being named the parade grand marshal is a big honor. I’m shocked,” Airosa said. “The fair is important to the community and we get to see people once a year that we haven’t seen all year. It’s like a reunion.”
Tulare County Fair CEO Pamela Fyock added that “no one is more deserving to be recognized in this 100th year than Joe. He has worked tirelessly on this century celebration.”
The Tulare County Fair is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, with a wide variety of displays and events in the works to celebrate this landmark year. Traditional favorites continue, including fun fair food, the annual Junior Livestock Auction, great rides and entertainment ranging from comedy and gold rush mining to an illusionist team, an extreme dogs stunt show and five nights of great entertainment on the Bud Light stage.
Visit www.tcfair.org for information and ongoing updates to the schedule of events, or call the fairgrounds office at 686-4707.