Merrill Award Recipients
2011 Big Fresno Fair, Feed the Need Community Food Drive
2010 Alameda County Fair, Puppy Party Palooza
2009 California Mid-State Fair, Mission Square
2008 Alameda County Fair, Stand Down Program
Marin County Fair, Environmental Strategy
2007 Los Angeles County Fair, Fair View Farms
Marin County Fair, Children's Program
2006 Big Fresno Fair, Kids' Zone
Minnesota State Fair, Eco Experience
2005 Calgary Stampede, Guerrilla Marketing
San Diego County Fair, Environmental Awareness
2004 Antelope Valley Fair, New Fairgrounds
Salinas Valley Fair, Livestock Area Renovations
2003 Redwood Acres Fair, Exceptional Rodeo Program
2002 Orange County Fair, Internal Communications
Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair, Community Outreach
2001 Los Angeles County Fair, Fair Marketing Program
Western Washington Fair, 9/11 Response
2000 Nadine Lowry, Lifetime Achievement
Kern County Fair, Corporate Outreach Program
1999 Western Washington Fair, Ecoli Outbreak Response
1998 Calgary Stampede, Fair Marketing
Marin County Fair, Theme Program
1997 Del Mar Fair, Hispanic Marketing Program
1996 California State Fair, The Champion Challenge
1995 Marin County Fair, Multimedia Fair Marketing
1994 California State Fair, Livestock DNA Testing
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Commitment to Fair Industry Studies
1993 Calgary Stampede, Sponsorship Program
Napa Valley Exposition, Community and PR Program
Orange County Fair, Community Outreach Programs
1992 Merced County Fair, Old McDonald's Fair
School Involvement Fair, Nontraditional Youth Fair
Calgary Stampede, Sponsorship Program
1991 Western Fair, Livestock 2000
1990 Sam Abbott, Lifetime Contribution to the Industry
1989 Orange County Fair, Friends of the Fair Program
Festival at the Lake, Community Outreach
1987 Tulare County Fair, Overall Creative Management
Colorado River Country Fair, Youth Development
California State Fair, The Farm
1986 New Mexico State Fair, Posters
Edmonton Northlands, Overall Advertising Program
1985 Orange County Fair, Community and PR Outreach Program
Ventura County Fair, Posters
Sonoma County Fair, Identification Program
Los Angeles County Fair, Display AdvertisingWFA Hall of Fame
2011 Ernie Guderjahn, Tawny Tesconi
2011 Susan Clark, Michael Treacy
2010 John Alkire, Mark Hill
2009 Becky-Baily Findley, Gary Montgomery
2008 Steve Edwards, Al Mall, Stephen Chambers
2007 Doug Lofstrom, Don Hillman
2006 Lucky Henner, Ron Miller
2005 Earl “Butch” Butler, Selma Harris
2004 Ed Scofield, Ciro Toma
2003 Ralph Clark, Beverly Wilson
2002 Bob Carlson
2001 Joseph Barkett, Norbert Bartosik
2000 Jack Scott, Denny Thompson
1999 Senator Ken Maddy
1998 Ron Lillard, Mel Simas
1997 Albert Morrow, Kim Myrman
1996 John Root, Sam Johnston
1995 Jake Walgenbach, Greg G. Stewart
1994 Ted Kasinak, Dr. Conrad Ferreira
1993 Senator Rose Ann Vuich
1992 Brian Davie
1991 Kenneth Fulk
1990 Don Jacques
1989 Ester Armstrong
1988 Evan McGugan, Ralph Hinds
1987 Andy Stodel
1986 Senator Ray Johnson
1984 George J. Gomes
1983 George W. Strathearn
1982 Ron Maraviov
1981 Walt Kittredge
1980 Bates T. Bowers
1979 Joe Blenkle
1977 M. Ray Harrington, Pauline Davis, Alex Freedman
1973 Cecil Jo Hindley, Alan L. Milnes, Phil D. Shepherd
1971 Tulsa St. Elmo Scott
1970 C.L. (Link) Peckinpah
1969 Stuart B. Waite
1968 Albert A. (Abe) Jensen
1965 Louis S. Merrill
1964 Tevis Paine
1963 Dr. Julian McPhee
1959 Ed L. Paine
1958 Tom Dodge
1957 George N. Miller
1955 George A. Clarke
1953 Ed G. Vollman, Dr. J.N.D. Hindley, C.B. AfflerbaughBarham Award Winners
2012 Nancy Chapman, Chapman Fashion International
Ken McMeans, Ken McMeans Presents
2011 Rocket and Ashley Hoskins, Rocket's K-9 Comets Frisbee Dog Stars
2010 Connie Barham, CB's Cupcakes
Lori Southerlend, Lori's Concessions
Tommy Giodone, Tommy G Productions
2009 Charlie Boghosian, Chicken Charlies
Doo Wah Riders
2008 Ernie and Mary Lee Guderjahn, Theater-16, Inc.
2007 Nancy Kobert-Riegler and Gil Riegler, Kobert Animal Productions
2006 Ross and Angela Owen, Owen Trailers, Inc.
Roger Sharp, Big Bubba’s Bad BBQ
2005 Jeff Thornberry, Pristine Systems, Inc.
2004 Ron Boeger, Happy Day Pony Ride
Tom LaMotta, Diversified Amusements
2003 Chuck and Irene Dugan, Chuckwagon Concessions
2002 Cotton and Karen Rosser, Flying “U” Rodeo
Dutch and Fran Holland, Dutch Holland Racing
2001 Reno and Elaine Pignotti, Reno’s Fish & Pasta
John Barnard, Vita-Mix Corporation
2000 Guy and Charlene Leavitt, Ray Cammack Shows
1999 Touch of Mink Dermac Labs
Gary and Kari Johnson, Have Trunk...Will Travel
1998 Eldon and Janis Dale, Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls
1997 David and Dianne Linderman, Great American Petting Zoo
Ben and Rivie Kirk, Orange Julius
1996 John and Barbara Marzalino, Mackinac Island Fudge
Award Winners
The Western Fairs Association is honored to present annual awards to the best in our industry. The following awards are presented at the Industry Awards Dinner at the WFA Convention and Trade Show each year.- Hall of Fame--Presented to an individual whose dedicated efforts have enriched the tradition of fairs and encouraged the professionalism of the industry as a whole.
- Barham Award--Presented in remembrance of Hot Dog on a Stick Founder, Dave Barham, and recognizes innovation, quality and leadership in the field of service.
- Merrill Award--Named in honor of Western Fairs Association Founder, Louis Merrill, and is given for those entries that clearly demonstrate innovation, vision and excellence.
- Achievement Awards--More than 50 fairs throughout the western United States and Canada participate in this program. View a list of the 2011 award winners.