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2025 Professional Excellence Awards Program

The Texas Association of Fairs and Events strives to promote the professional standards and business practices of its members and continuously maintain its high code of conduct. The association prides itself on recognizing and rewarding cutting-edge ideas and the professional men and women who work in this exciting industry through the following annual awards.

Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award

HALL OF FAME LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

As TAF&E's highest honor, this award inducts those who have exceeded the expectation of those around them and shined brightly as an example of dedication, integrity and professionalism. Nominations are open and due November 18, 2024. If you would prefer a word document of the application, please email texasfairsandevents@gmail.com and we will be glad to email you one.

Hall of Fame Application

Professional of the Year and Volunteer of the Year

At the Annual Convention, two members are recognized for their tireless service and exemplary commitment to their events and to our Association.

Nominations are open and due November 18, 2024
If you prefer a word document of the application, please email texasfairsandevents@gmail.com and we will be glad to email you one.

Volunteer of the Year Award

Congratulations to Our Past Winners!

Congratulations to all of our past Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Awards:

2024 Douglas Borchardt

2023 Jerry Huffman

2022 Cecil Willis

2021 Paul Tibaldo

2020 Gayle Hall

2020 Virgil Bartlett

2019 Tony Fiori
2018 Daniel C. Clark

2017 Don Buckalew
2016 John Sykes
2015 James Bricker, Buddy & Jenny Siltman

2014 Don Jobes, Dwayne & Beverly Steck, Kay Wolf

2013 Buster Brown, Keith Martin, & Steve Poynor

2012 Lynn Griffin & Pete Van de Putte

2011 Don Ahrens & Wayne Gallagher

2010 Louis Katz & Carolyn Newport McKee

2009 Errol McKoy & Steve Russell

2008 Tony McMillan & Leroy Shafer

2007 Jim Beale & Roy Henderson

2006 Jerry L. Henneke, Rita Jayne Haynes, & Travis Boeker

2005 James Roden, Murray Ferguson, & Lawrence Hemann

2004 Jack King & Marge Rosenberg

2003 Walter "Diz" Ansel

2002 Joe Vera III & Alice Emmons

Professional of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Past Winners

At the Annual Convention, two members are recognized for their tireless service and exemplary commitment to their events and to our Association. Congratulations to our past winners.

Manager/Professional of the Year

2024 - Cindy Blaha - Wharton County Youth Show

2023 - Cindy Schmidt, Fort Bend County Fair

2021 - Tammy Dooley, Visit Granbury

2020 - Daryl Real, State Fair of Texas

2019 - Darlene Lively, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

2018 - Rochelle Johnson, Taylor County Expo Center

2017 - Keith Smith, Bell County Expo Center

2016 - Beth Traylor, Montgomery County Fair Association

2015 - Susan Sillivan Forbes, Fort Bend County Fair

2014 - Glenn Carlton, North Texas Fair & Rodeo

2013 - Rusty Fitzgerald, State Fair of Texas

2012 - Virgil Bartlett, Amarillo Tri-State Exposition

2011 - Wes Allison, Heart O' Texas Fair

2010 - Gayle Hall, Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau

2009 - Joyce M. Bise

2008 - Bucky Lamb, Rodeo Austin

2007 - Don Thorn

2006 - James Bricker

2005 - Rita Jayne Haynes

2004 - John E. Sykes, East Texas State Fair

2003 - Tony McMillan

2002 - Jim Beale

2001 - Roy Henderson

Volunteer of the Year

2024 - Mike Risica - Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show & Rodeo

2023 - Sherry Raisner, Waller County Fair

2022 - Stephen Naleway, Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival

2021 - Daniel Cernoch, Fayette County Fair

2020 - Dean Ferriegel, Pasadena Strawberry Festival

2019 - Sam Morrow, Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show

2018 - Glenna Laffey, Fayette County Fair

2017 - Sean Gutierrez

2016 - Mike Herrera

2015 - Rose Urbanovsky

2014 - Steve Adreno

2013 - Bill Jenkins

2012 - John Stanley

2011 - Glenn McMennamy, Amarillo Tri-State Exposition

2010 - Scott Felton

2009 - Joyce M. Bise

2009 - Mary Bernaski

2008 - Douglas R. Borchardt, Washington County Fair

2007 - Tommy Dodd

2006 - Harold Luhn

2005 - Joel J.D. Gonzales

2004 - Eddie Dansby & Wayne Waters

2003 - William Koehl

2002 - Loe J. Wick & Tom Sawyer

2001 - Bill Chaney & Kenneth D. Lewis