The 2024 Fair is dedicated to Glenn Bruce. The Rodeo is dedicated to Bruce and Fred Bell.
Glenn Bruce
Glenn Bruce, long-time fairground caretaker, passed away unexpectedly in 2023. Glenn and his wife, Tina, took excellent care of the grounds for 17 years.
The list of how to care for the fairgrounds is four pages long. Glenn was constantly moving hoses to keep the lawns watered. In summer, there is constant mowing and week whacking. We don’t know how many lawn mowers and weed whackers Glenn wore out! He was a master at keeping them running.
There is a constant flow of visitors, for the fair, weddings, meetings, trainings, rodeos, biking, camping, fright night. Glenn constantly welcomed them, reassured them, made them feel at home, set up buildings, moved tables & chairs, adapted to their needs. Recently people have held weddings in the east corner of the grounds. Glenn said proudly, “The Elkhorns in the background make such beautiful wedding pictures.”
There are constant fairgrounds renovations. Those improvements meant more for him to keep watch over but Glenn welcomed them all.
The key word is “constant.” Glenn was a constant presence at the fairgrounds, at the grocery store, in the community, with his family. It is hard to lose someone who was so constantly positive, joking, kind, and a friend to everyone he met.
Marcel Proust said, “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
Thank you, Glenn. You made us happy.
Terry Minow
Fred Bell
Fred Bell, who died in May, was a part of the Jefferson County Rodeo since 1945, participating in the parade down Main Street on horseback. He and his wife Cleone owned and ran the business ‘The Fountain’ in the late 1950’s, serving as a local hangout for many Jefferson County kids.
Fred was instrumental in the Rodeo by volunteering in the concession stand, building bleachers, and doing any grounds work that needed to be done. He also served on the City Council for many years, lobbying to keep the cemetery and rodeo grounds in County hands. We thank Fred for his dedication to the Fair and Rodeo.
Brady Nordahl
