The Colusa County Fair Foundation gave three Heritage Awards this year to people whose legacy will follow them for generations.
The presentation of the prestigious awards preceded the Jr. Livestock Auction Sale of Champions on Saturday, June 10.
Fair Foundation President Dan Bailey presented the 2023 Heritage Awards to an individual, a mother-daughter duo, and an entire family who have made significant contributions to Colusa County without being in the limelight.
Jim Buchanan, the late Raechel Reading and daughter Pam Niehues, and the David and Sherry Perry family were this year’s honorees for their efforts to preserve the traditions of the Colusa County Fair.
“The highest honor the Fair Foundation gives out is our heritage awards,” Bailey said. “They are given to folks that give of themselves selfishly to the fair and they have done so over an extended period of time.”
Maxwell trucker Jim Buchanan was honored for his decades of hauling steers and pigs from the fair on closing day, at no cost, since 1971.
“Jim hauls animals for several fairs, but considers the fair in Colusa his family fair,” Bailey said. “It was important to Jim and he firmly believes in 4-H and FFA, of which both of his kids, Chris and Terence, were members.”
Buchanan, a fourth generation trucker, has been recognized twice by the Western Fairs Association.
The late Raechel Reading (1930-2016) and daughter Pam Niehues, of Colusa, knew what talented employees of the 44th and volunteers could do to better the fair and fairgrounds – if they chose to be a part of it.
Reading, among other things, was the coordinator of the Main Exhibit Building, was a familiar face at the gate, and was a strict enforcer for fairground rules.
For many years, she oversaw the design and building of the State Fair exhibit booth for Colusa County, and spent countless volunteer hours manning it.
Her daughter followed in her footsteps as a volunteer coordinator of Pumpkin Village and coordinator of the Main Exhibit Building for the fair, receiving, displaying, and judging exhibits.
A Master Gardener and member of the Garden Club of Colusa County, Niehues returned the fair greenhouses to good use and planted the wood flowering pots that graced the stage and grounds for years.
“Not unlike her mother Raechel, Pam’s presence on the fairgrounds was not just during the fair, as both saw there was work to be done all year in preparation for special events,” Bailey said. “Pam continues to be a valued volunteer for the 44th.”
The Colusa County Fair would also not be the same without the Perry family, who also received the Fair Foundation’s highest award.
Sherry Perry, with children, grandchildren, and other members of her family at her side, accepted the award.
Not only were the Perrys and several generations of children involved in 4-H and FFA programs and exhibits, Sherry Perry became an even larger volunteer through the Colusa County Mini Miss Pageant, helping young girls build confidence skills and become leaders in their communities.
Alongside their mom, daughters Jyl Torrens and Nina Rudiger played a large role in the pageant from the beginning, teaching dance routines to contestants and bringing new dancers on stage to perform, before organizing the entire pageant through their Stardust Dance Company.
Daughter Jenny Perry contributed years of dedication at the 4-H office and was the point of contact for leaders, parents, and participants.
Son Brett Perry was also a behind-the-scenes volunteer as the go-to man for animal weigh in, while also donating equipment to the facilities.
“The county fair would not be the same without the entire Perry family volunteering their time in multiple areas,” Bailey said. ■