Former West End Fair president Everett reflects on 40 years of service

Longtime West End Fair President Donald Everett has handed over the reins.

He turned 91 in February and recalls his first year as president, when six of them met in the vegetable stand to plan the fair.

Back then the fair was a lot smaller; there were more animals and more farmers who participated.

“I liked when we had all the old-time tractors here. People would buy the equipment,” he said.

“I used to love riding the Ferris wheel because it goes up and stops. You can see all around the whole fair,” said Everett, president of the fair for 40 years and head of concessions.

Everett doesn’t like the motion of the other rides, so he has not ridden them.

Everett used to own 45 acres, where he farmed potatoes, corn and small cattle. He worked at Mack Trucks for 31 years.

He loves to be part of a team that keeps the fair going year after year, when things like amusement parks also want the kids’ attention and stormy weather could keep the crowd at home.

Every year “our biggest hope is the weather is nice. We want to get people through the gate,” he said.

In late 2018, he stepped down as president and handed the reins over to Dale “Peanut” Greenzweig Jr.

Everett still serves as a director from Chestnuthill Township and head of concessions.

“To serve 40 continuous terms as president is a great accomplishment,” said Greenzweig, who served as assistant secretary from 2009 until 2018.

“He is a nice person. He was sincere about his job,” Greenzweig said of Everett. “He tried to include everyone in the decision-making process. He tried to be fair to everyone. It is so hard to please 36 directors.”

Each township — Chestnuthill, Eldred, Hamilton, Jackson, Polk and Ross — has six directors on the board. They represent the township where they live.

Six of these directors also sit on the executive board as the president, vice president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer and assistant treasurer.

There are also nine honorary directors and one honorary member, as listed in the fair book.

Everyone on the fair board is a volunteer.

“The most important thing is being nice to fairgoers and vendors because you want them to go home and tell their family and friends to come to our fair,” Greenzweig said.

2019 fair facts

The fair will occur Aug. 18-24 at the West End Fairgrounds, 570 Fairgrounds Road, Gilbert. Gates open at noon each day. Admission is $6 for age 11 and over. Admission is free for 10 and under. The buildings close at 10 p.m. each day.

This is the 98th Annual West End Fair, and its theme is Fairs Feature Agriculture.

Greenzweig shared some highlights of the upcoming fair week.

“Our new vendor, Shooting Star Fireworks, will do a gigantic display Sunday evening around 9 or 9:30. It should be a pretty good show,” said Greenzweig.

Shooting Star Fireworks provided the display at West End Fireman’s Festival recently and wowed the crowd, he said.

Monday is community appreciation day, with free gate from noon to 3 p.m.

The fair will help three local food banks collect nonperishable food items by offering a promotion on Tuesday. From noon to 3 p.m., fair guests can bring one nonperishable food item and receive 50% off the admission cost. If they bring a second item, they get a 50% discount on a ride wristband.

Admission is $3 for senior citizens 65 and older on Wednesday.

For Children’s Day on Thursday, students who show their student ID will get in for $3. There will be games at 3 p.m. in the Kids’ Korral.

The rodeo is returning and is one of many events throughout the week.

“People really enjoyed it. We’re bringing it back this year,” Greenzweig said.

The truck pull, demolition derby and racing also return to the main arena.

A human cannon will be at the fair all week.

“The entertainment committee is pretty excited about it. He flies pretty far out of the cannon,” Greenzweig said.

Last year, PPL came one day to do a safety training. This year, PPL employees will be there all week.

“They will show people what to do when power lines are down or if a transformer explodes,” he said.

Lots of food, fun, entertainment, games, livestock, agriculture, exhibits, rides, demonstrations, music, vendors and more await fair guests.