GRAND MARSHAL

from Sumner County Fair Guide 2022

Grand marshals: Gary and Toni Wolff

The Sumner County Fair Association has chosen Toni and Gary Wolff as grand marshals of the 2022 Sumner County Fair. Gary was born and raised in Sumner County and attended the county fair throughout his life; Toni grew up in a small town in western Kansas where “fair week” was always a highlight of the summer. They met and married while they were students at Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University). Gary worked in Emporia, and Toni taught in Madison for three years, and then they spent a year in Atchison, where Gary worked in industry and Toni taught at Atchison County Community High School. In 1974, they returned to Sumner County to help on the family farm.

Toni started helping with the art department at the Fair in 1975 and served as superintendent until 1979. In 1979, she was elected secretary-treasurer of the fair association and continues with that job today. Many changes have occurred during these 48 years. For example, a new livestock pavilion and fair building have been built. At one time, two Fair dances were held simultaneously at the close of the fair. The hierarchy of the Fair board has been updated. A newspaper tabloid replaced the fair book. The Junior Livestock Show and Auction grew until the barn was so full extensions had to be added on both ends of the barn. The Fair brought named talent to the stage and continues to do so today. It added a yearly charity event to the fair agenda, and took over the demolition derby and added the figure 8 race. Trying to find and keep a carnival became a major issue as carnivals became few and far between. To compensate, the fair board started using inflatables so that the youth could have fun. In addition, when the 4-H Council asked to become a part of the Sumner County Fair, RD Ford, Linda Mirt, Mike Reager, and Toni worked many hours and fielded tons of questions to get the two fairs combined into one event.

Gary joined the fair board in 1989 and became the fair button chairman, a job he held until 2010. His job entailed getting a button designed each year, gathering prizes for nightly drawings, and selling the buttons. At one time, the yearly goal was to sell 1,000 buttons. He also filled in where needed doing fair chores so that the Fair ran smoothly each year and worked at the race events also.

Gary’s and Toni’s two sons, Jeff and Aaron, were active in 4-H. Thus, both parents served as project leaders and helped with the 4-H aspect of the Fair. Toni also was a community leader, and both of them served on the Extension Council. Four of their five grandchildren have spent time in Caldwell during fair week and have worked at the Fair and enjoyed the activities during the week.

Both Gary and Toni are retired now, Gary from farming and Toni from a 34-year teaching career. Both are actively involved in the Corbin United Methodist Church. Gary served many years as trustee on the Chikaskia Township board, retiring recently. He also was the treasurer for the Czech Cemetery for many years, retiring that position earlier this spring. Toni keeps busy substitute teaching for Caldwell and South Haven schools. Both of them enjoy attending grandchildren’s events and visiting family.

Being a part of the growth and change of the Sumner County Fair has been, at times, a challenging but fulfilling part of their lives. They thank the Sumner County Fair Association for honoring them as grand marshals of the 95th annual Sumner County Fair.