“FAIR”LY IMPORTANT MATTERS continued…..………………………………………..
F.Y.I. ON A F.Y.I. SPOTLIGHT By Leah J. Norris
I’m sure you’re wondering about the title
of this article. We have started a newslet- ter campaign to introduce Federation members to young people in our industry that are members of Florida Youth In- volved (F.Y.I.). I knew from the beginning that I wanted to spotlight Chantel Fain with the South Florida Fair in our inaugural article. It was a conversation that was had with Chantel at the 2010 Federation Con- vention that got the ball rolling on the whole F.Y.I. program. Now to give you the F.Y.I. on this F.Y.I. Chantel is a true Florida girl. She was
Chantel Fain
raised in Palm Beach County. She at- tended Florida Southern University but transferred to Florida State University where she graduated with a degree in
Social Sciences, with a minor in Florida History. After graduating from FSU, she worked for the State of Florida
in Child Services. During that time she volunteered in the Live- stock department at the South Florida Fair. After a short time, she realized her passion lies in the Fair industry and began working full time with the South Florida Fair in October 2004. Since that time, Chantel has helped South Florida Fair’s agricultural depart- ment become a leader in the industry. She has assisted in agri- cultural education programs that have won awards in our industry as well as from other organizations. She was instrumental in initi- ating an embryology program in Palm Beach elementary schools. Chantel is involved in community as well. She is the Chair of
the Palm Beach County 4H Advisory Board, volunteers at her sons’ schools, and gives her time at the Concession Stand at her son’s soccer games. She also reads for schools during Ag Liter- acy Day. Chantel is a great asset to the South Florida Fair, as well as the
Florida Federation of Fairs. Be sure to get to know her, as well as other young people in the industry. Help to guide them and teach them, they are, after all, the future of our industry. If you would like to spotlight a FYI member from your Fair, please send name and information to: Leah Norris, Lake County Fair,
leahjnorris@gmail.com
Joyce Covington - State Fair and Much More Recognized For A Lifetime of Dedication
Here's the promise
Joyce Covington made to herself 40 years ago: "The day I don't feel like getting up and coming here to teach the Bible class to the kids is the day I quit," she vowed. It hasn't hap- pened. At 83, the woman many affectionately call "Miss Joyce," is still teach- ing Sunday school to third- graders at Hyde Park United Methodist Church. She has the same enthusiasm for the volunteer job she took on 40 years ago, enough to get her recognized as the 2011 "Teacher of the Year" by the Florida United Methodist Foundation. "I think that was just about the best thing to ever happen to me," Miss Joyce says, blushing. Characteristically, she donated the $500 that came with the award to the church's children's ministry. "Really, I just wake up happy every day," she says, when
asked about her secret to a vital life. "Every morning I say, 'Hey, Lord, today is your day. What do you need me to do?' And he's kept me pretty busy." She's a woman who doesn't really like change. Miss Joyce has
been with the same bridge group for 56 years, and she meets monthly with her lady friends at the venerable Lunch on Limoges in Dade City. For 30 years – 18 as a volunteer, and the past 12 as a staff member – she's worked in special events at the Florida State Fairgrounds. And her family has held season tickets to University of Florida football games for 60 years. Though she is all about following protocol, Miss Joyce was
quite a renegade in her early years. While most of her peers went into teaching or nursing, she picked industrial chemistry for her major at Stetson University in Deland. When she graduated in 1950 – only one of three females with that degree – her pro- fessor helper her get a job as an inspector at a phosphate plant in Mulberry. "Then they found out I was a girl, and that was the end of that," she says. Things have a way of working out. In- stead, she got work in the quality-control department at an or- ange-processing plant in Dade City, and she met her future hus- band. P.J. Gardner, 33, an investment consultant in Tampa, says he
Chantel
participated in this year’s Fair Dream Tour 2011
with (left to right) Christ Rusakis, Cindy Bennett, Chantel, and
Annabel Manners
can't remember the names of any of his elementary teachers, but he will never forget Miss Joyce, whose influence extended be- yond Bible lessons. A year after he completed third-grade Sun- day school, he found himself under the tutelage of Miss Joyce once again – this time at the Tampa Yacht Club, where she taught Junior Cotillion as a volunteer for 20 years. "For the boys, it was a course on how to be a Christian gentleman," he says. "She really stressed all the old-school stuff on manners and eti- quette. We had to wear a coat and tie and act respectable." Anyone who knows Miss Joyce wouldn't be surprised by her
favorite Scripture, the one that defines her life: Philippians 4:6 – "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplica- tion with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God." Yes, it's been a good life, she says. And it's not over yet. "This
is a God thing," she says. "He has a plan. As long as he needs me, I'm going to be here." see a WFLA-TV report on the longtime teacher in class, go to
TBO.com, search: Miss Joyce.
25
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40