Berry and Wash have many qualities in common, the most obvious are that they are handsome fellows who say, “Yes, ma’am” when speaking. Further investigation shows them to both be multi-generation Howard Countians, graduates of Howard County high schools and Howard College. They have college degrees and work in agriculture-related jobs. And they are some of the newer, younger members of the Fair Board.

Berry is a Coahoma High and Howard College grad, who went on to Texas Tech to get a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics and a master's in ag education. He is now in his fifth year as assistant professor of agriculture at Howard College.

Wash graduated from Forsan High and Howard College, then got a BBA from Angelo State before beginning his present work as a Farm Bureau insurance agent.

Both agree that Howard County has been good to them.

“I needed to do something to give back,” said Berry.

Wash noted, “Howard College paid me to go to school” so he wants to repay the county by helping keep the fair going.

This is Berry’s second year as a fair director and he has learned that the position entails many jobs.

“Last year I spent a lot of time picking up trash,” admitted the assistant prof.

Thus far in Wash’s first year, he related, “I’ve moved tables and chairs; we’ve spent a lot of time setting up and cleaning up.”

They laughingly added that this prestigious position “takes a strong back and a weak mind.”

“I’m here because Tom (Koger) twisted my ear,” said Cash. “When your preacher asks you in front of the congregation, you don’t refuse.”

He encourages other young people to join them in keeping the fair going.

“We need things like this to do locally to keep our money at home,” the ag eco major said.

Wash was recruited by Cash and Bob Nichols, a former board president.

“I accepted mainly for some more community involvement and because they said they needed somebody,” said the farm-related insurance man.

When one realizes that most of the board members have served many of the 36 years of the fair’s existence, the need for young members is apparent.

“We’ve got to get some ‘new blood’ to keep this thing going.” Wash said, “We need as much young help as we can get.”

They have learned that the job requires a little time during the year and much time and hard work during the fair. However, they feel that preserving local tradition, serving as a community forum, providing a time and place for people to get acquainted with their neighbors and keeping agricultural knowledge alive is worth the time and effort.

“Anyone who volunteers for the job will get more back than they’ll know,” said Wash.