Neuman Named 2022 Fayette Co. Fair Volunteer of The Year

Dennis Neuman has been named the 2022 Fayette County Fair Volunteer of the Year. Here’s more about this amazing fair volunteer, who will be working hard again at this year’s

event Labor Day Weekend: Neuman grew up on a ranch in Hondo with two older sisters and two older brothers. Dennis loves the outdoors being close to nature. He loves hunting and fishing. He has two sons and one daughter and a blended family with a second marriage one boy and one girl. Dennis’s pride and joy are his five granddaughters and one grandson. He loves to BBQ. For many years he and his sons have enjoyed entering the BBQ cook offs at the Fayette County Fair. This past year they won Reserve Champion. Dennis graduated from Texas A&I, Kingsville, Texas, with a Bachelors of Science degree in Animal Science. He worked for USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service for 39 years. He retired in 2016 and took on a part time job with Ducks Unlimited for the last five years and enjoys scouting waterfowl and identifying different breeds of birds.

Dennis has been helping with the Fayette County Fair since 1992 when he married Marty his wife who was a member of the Fair Association at the time. Marty oversaw the Country Store and he helped her with all aspects of running that until 3 years ago, when she turned it over to other members. She also assisted with the Womanless Talent Show, which she convinced Dennis to participate in for three years. By that time Dennis had become a Fair member himself. Dennis has worked in all areas of the fair. To list a few: Cowboy Gathering, MS150 Bike-a-thon, VIP Sponsor Lounge, Creative Arts Dept., set up for Czech German Mart and Livestock Dept. He is also the chairman of the Carnival Committee to negotiate contracts and all working aspects of the carnival. Other duties he takes care of are, making sure the coolers are in working order, porta-potties and dumpsters and large fans are ordered and placed in proper locations for the fair. He assists with ordering and location for all the security lighting on the grounds during the fair and has assisted with decorations for the Queens Parade Float, set up for annual Volunteer Appreciation dinners, and Fair member Christmas parties.

Dennis is easy going, has a very quiet disposition and is very tall, 6’5”. Being that tall really comes in handy at fair work parties because in places, we shorter workers don’t need a ladder! Dennis has many talents at fixing things and can be seen all year round on the grounds helping different departments preparing for the fair. After being a member for one year he was elected to the Fair Board. He was Vice President for two years. He is a Fair board member and is on the By Laws committee, Entertainment committee and Budget committee. Dennis has also served as past president of the Green Belt Soil and Water Conservation Society, served as President of La Grange All Sports Booster Club. He coached Little League Basketball and Baseball for his kids and their teammates for numerous years. He ran and worked for numerous years the high school basketball and baseball concessions in La Grange.

When Dennis is not working at his great part time job or for the Fayette County Fair, he has fun playing with his grandkids, watching college football, fishing, hunting and watching the many deer in his back yard.