The honorary families are families chosen by the Montgomery County Fair Board. While several of the families chosen have dedicated years and generations of volunteer hours to our event, some were only with us a short time but their heroic lives deserve to be celebrated.
2024 HONORARY FAMILIES
The Hoggats
Kasey Hoggatt is likely remembered by this community in one of many ways.
It could be the time she shared with the many children, and their families, when she provided daycare services in the early 2000’s. If any of you daycare kids and families are out there now, just know you held a special place in her heart!
It could be that she maybe has taken a picture or two, or maybe even a hundred pictures, of you, of your family, of your business, of your home. Photography was her passion. Her self-taught style was always in high demand, and she loved every minute of it. To all the families and businesses that truly appreciated that style of hers, know that you all held a special place in her heart as well!
It could be that you met her in the last few years while she worked at the Chamber of Commerce. Once her kids grew up and were out of the house, she looked for a change in scenery. She found that opportunity at the Chamber, one that allowed her to get out and get involved in the community. She enjoyed being involved in the day-to-day operations of the Chamber, and absolutely loved helping with community and Chamber events, such as Spooktacular, Dalton Defenders Days, Brewfest, etc.
It was her working at the Chamber that introduced her to the “Behind the Scenes” of the Fair and Rodeo. For a few weeks a year, she got to work with the fair board, and many of the volunteers and vendors who put these fair weeks together. The excitement, the hectic pace, the daily pitfalls that occur when putting something like this week on…she thrived in it. She loved fair week in Coffeyville!
It could be that Kasey’s story is an inspiration to you. A story of a Stage 4 Breast Cancer diagnosis in 2006. A story of fighting that diagnosis head-on for 18 years. Basically, a story of a mother’s love for her children.
When she was once asked “How do you continue that fight, day after day?”
Her reply was, “It’s simple. Each day, you decide to either stand up or lay down.”
The Keenes
Joel Keene began his involvement with the Montgomery County Fair Association by assisting his children in 4-H and F.F.A. Fair Association members Eldred Harris and Warren Mowder urged Joel to become more than just a concerned parent so he joined the Association in 1972. He continued working in all aspects of the Livestock and Junior Market Sale committees and has been chairman of one, the other or both for over twenty years. Joel served the Association as president in 1982.
We had some money allotted to build new pens, but nothing was ever done. I had to give my personal guarantee to Association leaders Pratt Barndollar and Jack Brooks that I would have the pens built and installed before the Fair in order to get the funds. “Everything worked out”, says Keene, “but it was quite a job.” Additional barns, the show arena and the recently installed restrooms, the new livestock office, and the Ron Stevenson Memorial building were top on Keene’s list of improvements. “Ron Stevenson was a tremendous help to the Fair Association and the building is a nice way to remember him”, says Keene.
“I do what I do in the Livestock area for the kids. These young people are the future of our nation. Statistics show that less than one percent of youth are involved in 4-H and F.F.A. ever get in trouble with the law. That is reason enough for me”, says Keene. One of the funniest times Keene remembers is when Robert Rinkenbaugh, who was helping with the barns, was lifted up by the power of a fire hose that he was using. “Dan White, another Association member, had to slowly turn the water pressure down until Robert splashed back first into a mud puddle. It was sure funny”. “I could not have done it without all the other chairmen and members that worked together to get it all done over the years”, concludes Keene.
Joel and his wife, Diane, who is also a Fair Association member and his biggest helper, have four children – John, Jim, Liz and Joel Jr. plus 12 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. When not busy with the Fair or family, the Keenes enjoy raising exotic birds and a small cow herd for the purpose of raising Club calves.
Joel became a lifetime member in 1987, he still enjoys the livestock shows and the rodeo.
The Sanduskeys
The Interstate Fair and Rodeo started for the Sandusky family in March 1973. Ron was hired at the Coffeyville Light Department in March 1973. Ron was an apprentice Lineman and Cliff Mace, John Moomaw and Floyd Ashenfelter encouraged Ron to help them at the fair. They were Members of the Fair Association at the time. Another Fair Board Member who persuaded him was Floyd Rinkenbaugh. Through them he became active with the Fair Association. The Light Department oversaw keeping the lights on! They were always there to make sure the electricity stayed on, and the lights kept burning.
Ron became a Fair Association Member in 1975. Ron helped on various committees. He has been the Chairman for the Demolition Derby. He then became Chairman for the Entertainment Committee. He always enjoyed the trip to Las Vegas to attend the Conventions to work on booking acts for the fair. Ron has also served on the Rodeo Committee, Sound for the arena and Livestock building and Long-Range Planning. Ron was also one of the original organizers of the Fun Pass. For years the list with phone numbers of the fair members, Ron was and still is listed as Ron “Jack of all Trades”. They always say give Ron/Pickleman a call…. he’ll know how to take care of it!
Ron served as Fair Board President in 1990, 1994 and 2001. This venture turned into quite a family affair. Their daughters Angie, Kari and Emily were always found out at the fairgrounds with their dad. When they were young, they would come out on work nights with their dad. You could find them painting bleachers or fences or whatever their dad told them to do. They loved being out there. Ron and Janet said every summer when they were young, they wanted to know “when was vacation time and when did the fair start’! Emily has also shown livestock in the Livestock Exhibits. Through the years they had been and until this day have been by their parents’ side to help. Angie, Kari, Emily, and Lora have all helped Janet with Exhibits, Bake Sale, Hospitality Room, Senior Fest and Spelling Bee. Emily and Kari have also served as Chairman/Co-chairman of Exhibits. Kari and Emily have both been Interstate Fair and Rodeo Princess. They all at one time or another have been members or are still members of the Association. They have also recruited husbands to join in on helping or becoming a fair board member. Kari’s husband Steve Palmer serves as Parking and Camping Chairman. Even the grandkids help.
Janet started helping wherever help was needed. She began helping with the Contestant Hospitality Tent when they first began serving the cowboys an evening meal. Later on, once the Ron Stevenson Building was built it was moved over to that building. There they finally had air conditioning and running water! Janet also served as the Chairman for the Royalty Committee. When the fun passes started, they started doing the Royalty with a King, Queen, Prince and Princess. The one who sold the most fun passes in their category won that title. She was Co-Chairman of the Exhibits. Then becoming Superintendent in 2007. She was also the Superintendent of the Senior Fest and Spelling Bee. She now serves as the Bake Sale Chairman.
Many memories have been made on these grounds. Here we found long lasting friendships,fellowship and memories beyond measure. You might want to check out the area sometimes to see if any “Dust Angels” are out there!!
The Rinkenbaughs
Back story:
Rodeos had been produced in Coffeyville since the early 1940’s by one of the riding clubs but not in conjunction with the Fair.
In 1947, local rodeo producer Clyde Hulet approached the fair board about producing a rodeo in conjunction with the Fair as a substitute for the horse races that were declining in popularity. Mr. Hulet then produced the rodeo at the direction of the Fair Board but the rodeo itself just broke even financially and the fair as a whole was losing money.
In 1948, $50 & $100 notes were sold with a one year maturity at 4% interest to pay for the Fair. With this money, the year ended with a cash balance of $94.54.
In 1949 the contract with Mr. Hulet was renegotiated with the Fair Association receiving a defined portion of the gate. Mr. Hulet produced the rodeo through 1952.
Floyd Rinkenbaugh
In 1953, a Rodeo Committee was established within the Fair Board, led by local automobile dealer Pat Plattner, to produce a “home promoted” rodeo. Bill O’Conner was retained to hire clowns, contract acts and be the announcer. Floyd Rinkenbaugh, the owner of a fine American Saddlebred Palomino and a friend of Mr. Plattner’s was asked to organize and produce a Rodeo Parade. Floyd’s name was penciled in as a new member of the Fair Board.
Before the institution of the Fairground Bean Feed, a breakfast was held on the downtown plaza on the morning of the first rodeo performance: Thursday. KGGF Radio’s Joe Cook was Master of Ceremonies and news broadcaster Harold Springer rode Floyd’s Palomino from the KGGF radio station to the plaza where he read the morning news horseback!
In 1958, Floyd was elected President of the Association for the 50th anniversary of the Inter-State Fair and Rodeo. That year, 25 cent gold coins were issued as legal tender throughout Coffeyville. Dennis Weaver, TV Gunsmoke’s Chester Goode, was the rodeo intermission entertainment and the rodeo sold out every night. Governor George Docking and his wife Virginia led the Rodeo Parade, joined the Fairground festivities and attended the Rodeo. Pinkerton was hired to take tickets to eliminate Fair Board members from being pressured into letting their friends in for free.
Floyd remained very active on the Fair & Rodeo until his death in 1985. During his tenure, he was chairman of several committees:
- Parade
- Rodeo
- Parking and Traffic
- Security
- Ticket Sales
- Junior Fat Livestock Premium Sale
The young Rinkenbaugh boys began helping at worknights as soon as they were able. In the late 1960’s they helped build the second set of wooden Bucking Chutes and Chute Heaven, all new bull pens, the octogen Show Barn and whatever they were asked to help with.
John Rinkenbaugh
In 1971, John was elected as the youngest member of the Fair Board to that date at 18. He also served on several committees leading up to John being elected President in 1981, again, the youngest president up to that time. As president, John hosted Governor John Carlin and his wife at the Rodeo Parade, the Fairground Feed and by touring the fairgrounds and attending the Wednesday night rodeo performance. A new music show stage was built on wheels that year. The music entertainment was probably the highlight with Reba McIntire, daughter and granddaughter of world champion steer ropers, to be the warm-up act for Tommy Overstreet.
Following John’s stint as President, he assumed the role of Rodeo Chairman for the next 6 years until he and his family moved with his career to suburban Detroit. John flew home every year to help his brother Joe by creating the Rodeo Program “Day Sheets”, by hand (before laptops and file sharing), and help Joe produce the actual rodeo by managing the new, north end timed events and Grand Entry.
Joe Rinkenbaugh
When John resigned as Rodeo Chairman due to his career, Joe Rinkenbaugh was called on to serve as Rodeo Chairman and did so for the next 11 years. In addition to producing the Rodeo, Joe and Dan O’Conner, son of longtime rodeo producer and announcer Bill O’Conner, teamed up to lead the country music show talent acquisition. Joe and Dan became very engaged in attending rodeos around the country and resumed attending the annual PRCA & Fair Conventions to glean ideas to grow the Inter-State Rodeo. Joe led the building of new timed event chutes at the north end, added the Single Steer Roping event, secured significant national sponsorship such as Cope-Skoal (later U.S. Smokeless Tobacco) and their impressive scoreboard, Coca-Cola, Budweiser and their Winners Circle added prize money, the Dr. Pepper Challenge for youth participants in Break-Away Roping and Barrel Racing. Joe introduced and led the implementation of the Fun Pass. Joe hired a live rodeo band to replace the long-used organist and hired Justin McKee to supplement Clem McSpadden as rodeo announcer. This two-announcer setup really increased the tempo of the rodeo.
In 1999, when work interrupted Joe’s ability to devote the time required, the two brother’s switched jobs by John returning as Rodeo Chairman and Joe assuming the north end performance responsibilities. During John’s second stint as Rodeo Chairman, significant sponsorship was secured, first with Coors, Pepsi and increased the participation of local businesses to be able to increase the purse and draw more and better contestants. When Coffeyville Resources approached him to significantly increase their financial contribution to double the added rodeo prize money, the VIP Booth was built and John devised a financial plan to build all new bucking chutes and Chute Heaven. This arrangement continued for another 10 years until John’s career again took him out of town and Joe resumed Rodeo Chairman in 2009. Joe’s significant accomplishments during his second stint was to replace the aging wood and steel bucking chutes with new professional bucking chutes, build the 2x larger Chute Heaven and build the new Announcers Stand, and timer and sound room.
When Joe Humble took over as Rodeo Chairman, he asked John where he would be during the rodeo performance. John responded that he would run the South Arena Gate because in all the years he was Chairman, he could never get anyone to run that gate and stay at that gate for the entire performance. He’s been doing that now for 15 years.