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Grand Marshal

2023 Grand Marshals!

 

The Eastern Idaho State Fair has chosen an incredible trio as the grand marshals of its annual celebration: Barry Adams, Gary Adams, and Amy Gough.

Meet the Adams (and Gough) family: determined, passionate, and deeply rooted in the Eastern Idaho State Fair community.  As lifelong employees, volunteers, and patrons of the Fair, their dedication and love have made a huge difference for fairgoers year after year, always behind the scenes.  Now, they have been chosen to represent the spirit of the Fair as the grand marshals—a recognition for their contributions.

The Eastern Idaho State Fair has a tradition of appointing a grand marshal who serves as an ambassador, representing the Fair’s values, heritage, and community.  This role honors those who contributed significantly to the Fair and the community.

Barry and Gary are brothers who were born and raised in Blackfoot, ID.  Amy is Gary’s daughter.  Beyond this trio, the family ties to the Eastern Idaho State Fair run deep.

“When we were younger, our dad worked the fair taking tickets.  He would collect Mom and Grandma to go to the horse races to bet quarters,” says Barry. “I’ve never told anyone this but I rode in the fair parade with my sister on horseback when I was very young.”

Their uncle Hyrum Adams was the Fairgrounds Superintendent for several years.  Barry worked as a contractor building displays and pouring cement.  When his uncle retired, Barry applied for the superintendent position and was eventually hired, holding the job for over 30 years until retiring in 2021.

“Over 30 years, most of the repairs, improvements, and large projects benefited from Barry’s skill and hard work.  The Fair had one of the best Grounds Superintendents in the fair business for three decades, and it showed in the care and maintenance of the grounds.  Behind every great Fair, there are talented people like Barry,” says Brandon Bird, General Manager. “Barry’s legacy will live on probably beyond his lifetime.”

Every project and improvement on the grounds is a product of the knowledge, skill, and determination of Barry.  One of those vast projects was updating the food booths under the Grandstand in 2002.  Barry led the effort to update those spaces to meet the building codes of its day.  Without Barry’s construction experience and leadership, it couldn’t have been done, and it has since been the loved location for Tiger Ears and Scone Nuggets.

 

 

 

Each year, the Eastern Idaho State Fair Board of Directors selects a Grand Marshal to represent the EISF at the Opening Day Parade. The Grand Marshal is selected for his or her lifetime service to the Eastern Idaho State Fair and/or the community. Nominees must be located in or affiliated with the 16 counties that comprise the EISF: Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Clark, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, Oneida, Power, and Teton.

Nominations are accepted throughout the year. Nominations forms must be turned in by May 15 for the nominee to be considered for that year’s fair. The Grand Marshal is announced in July annually. To download an application, click here.

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The Eastern Idaho State Fair is a 16-County Fair District. It is Eastern Idaho’s longest-running and largest community event with nearly 250,000 attendees each year. The mission of the EISF is to provide wholesome, affordable family education and entertainment in a clean and safe agricultural environment. 

 

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