A Message from Carl Penn, FDACS
Dear Federation Members, I am retiring at the end of this year
and I want to take this opportunity to tell you how much I have enjoyed working with all of you. Of all the different programs and activities I have been involved with in my time with the department, working with the Fair industry is the one I will miss the most. I thought I might list a few items
that might help you with getting your permit issued on a timely basis. 1. Midway Affidavit. You just have to submit the affidavit;
you do not have to submit the contract with the midway. 2. Board of Directors list. You need to submit their home ad-
dress and contact information which can either be an email ad- dress or phone number, we don't need both. 3. Financial statements signed by County Official for fairs with
less than 25,000 in attendance. Minimum is a Balance Sheet and an Operating or Profit and Loss statement. You can search on the internet for examples of financial statements or contact our office for samples. The following are County Officials in every county; Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, Clerk of the Court, Supervisor of Elections and Sheriff.
On behalf of the members of the Florida Federation of
Fairs, which includes Fairs, midway operators, conces- sionaires, entertainers, suppliers, etc. we thank you for your years of cooperation and your helpfulness in mak- ing sure “the show goes on.” Carl, we wish you a retirement that is as long and as
rewarding as your years with the FDACS. Tom Umiker, President
Getting to Know Our Past President—Ken Cassels—1990
By: Gayle Hart It was serendipitous that Kenneth Cassels would earn the rank of Ea-
gle Scout at the age of 10. After graduating from New Port Richey High School in 1944, the Plant City native was destined to serve his country and entered the Army Air Corps at age 17. Trained as a cryptographer, Cassels was shipped out to serve in Occupational Forces in Japan. After his 19th birthday and the end of World War II he was discharged from the Army with the rank of Corporal. Armed with a BSE from the University of Florida in 1951, Cassels
served a short stint teaching in Bradford County, but his calling was with the Army and he committed to active duty in 1951. He served as a com- missioned Army officer and was shipped to Korea for combat duty. At that point, he decided to make the Army a career and continued to move up the ranks. After successfully completing Army Ranger school and paratrooper
training at age 32, Cassells was promoted to Captain and began teaching offensive and defensive tactics in the Ranger Department at Fort Ben- ning. Having married Peggy Sparkman in 1955, Cassells moved his wife
and sons Kent and Scott to several Army bases around the United States, including a three year assignment in Hawaii. It was during this time, as the war in Vietnam escalated, he was as-
signed to the First Infantry Division – the Big Red One at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon. Cassels details his time in the military and Vietnam in his book “My Journey, An Eagle Scout’s Response to War and Peace.“ “Rubber plantations – every tree has its own water trap; it’s just on
one side of it. Well, there was this North Vietnamese soldier. He was just right in front of us, right behind this tree and I walked right past him. And he stabbed me, just barely, I didn’t even know he’d done it. I knew he’d come at me, and I shot him. I didn’t know for two days that I had a cut here ‘cause it didn’t hurt. But he didn’t shoot me, and I don’t know why, but thank God he didn’t.” In 1978 he retired from the Army as a full Colonel and was awarded
the “Florida Distinguished Service Medal” for outstanding meritorious service. After military retirement he became the General Manager of the Strawberry Festival in Plant City and started a second career that lasted
28
14 years. As manager he oversaw a vast expansion of the festival grounds and facilities that helped to make the Strawberry Festival a na- tionally famous attraction, in the same small town where he was born. Kenneth Cassels also served as President of the Florida Federation of Fairs in 1990 and is a honorary life member. Duty-Honor-Country express ideals to live by in any age or genera-
tion, but Ken Cassels has lived a full life and traveled all over the world in service for his country. Influenced by the basic traditions of the Boy Scouts of America and
has always kept the Scout Oath: On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong and mentally alert, and morally straight. .
4. For notifying fairs within 50 miles of your fairgrounds, you
need to send them a copy of your application along with the let- ter. 5. Insurance coverage. Work with your Midway operator and
insurance agent to obtain an ACORD Certificate of Liability Insurance with effective dates that covers time in which your annual fair will operate. Thanks again the courtesy you have extended to me over the
past twenty years. I wish you much success in your future events.
Carl Penn
Dennis Lee, Associate Director Florida Federation of Fairs: “Parade Day at the Strawberry Festival was Berry Fun! Former Strawberry Fest. Mgr. Ken Cassels and his wife Peggy surprised me with a visit. He gave this Tennessee boy the first opportunity to perform with my band at the Festival in 1986. Thank you sir!!! “
FAIRCRACKER-FALL 2015
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