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•  Scholarship Donation Form

Education is one of the main objectives of an agricultural fair.  The word education appears in the official emblem of the North Carolina Association of Agricultural Fairs.  Every fair offers things to teach as well as to entertain.  Many children get there first up-close look at farm animals when they see the livestock on display at their local fair.  From this they learn where the meat, poultry, pork, milk, cheese and eggs in their diet come from.  They see the field crops or growing gardens on display and learn that the vegetables they eat come from the earth, not the refrigerator or cans.  Live bee demonstrations show us where we get honey.  A lot of exotic animal shows that appear at fairs today not only entertain but also provide information on the problems these animals are having in their natural habitats.  Some fairs have military displays as well as local industries displaying their products.  From these exhibits visitors gain new insights to the world around them.

The North Carolina Association of Agricultural Fairs, took education a step further when it began a scholarship program to help high school students and their families who work on fair committees.  Money was raised by pledges or donations from the association and associate members, as well as an auction that is held on the opening night of the annual convention. 

Association and associate members bring items ranging from homemade candy, cooked hams or turkeys to rare collectibles to be sold at the auction.  The items are then sold with all proceeds going to the scholarship fund.  In the spring of 1989,  North Carolina Association of Agricultural Fairs presented its first scholarship to a high school senior from Wayne County to help her attend Peace College in Raleigh.  Since then, the scholarship programs have given almost $75,000 to over 80 qualified students to use at the college or university of their choice.

An associate member, Dick Janas, who was a concessionaire and carnival manager, worked tirelessly on the Scholarship committee from its beginning until his death in 2003.  The following year a group of members attempting to honor Dick for all his work, approached the Board of Directors and asked if a scholarship could be awarded in his name.  it was decided if the funds could be raised for an endowment scholarship to be awarded annually to a family member or worker of an associate member of the association.  At the first meeting of the 2007 Board of Directors, the Scholarship Committee, upon seeing the commitment to raising the money for this scholarship was still short of funds, asked the Board to allow them to put together the requirements to receive the Dick Janas Scholarship and give out applications in early 2008, even if some money had to be loaned to this fund.  The motion passed, and the first Dick Janas Scholarship will be awarded in 2008.