Hall of Fame
2025 - Becky Featherston
2024 – Herman & Kathy Ahrens
2023 – Barbie Washburn
2022 – Pam Lloyd
2021 – Sandra Nunn
2019 – James Ratliff
2018 – Truman Exum
2017 – Glenn Priebe
2016 – Marvin Moore
2015 – Larry Broomfield
2014 – Carolyn Lewis
2013 – Corrine Weatherly
2012 – Poindexter Fiser
2011 – Wendell Phillips
2010 – Eugene Gossett
Charles Smith Award
2025 - Alan Quattlebaum
2024 – Jackie Mahoney
2023 – Lisa Garner
2022 – Don Jones
2021 – Steve Clements
2019 – Jim DeJournett
2018 – Molly Wright
2017 – Jeff Robertson
2016 – Doug Hutsell
2015 – George Fox
2014 – Linda Baxter
2013 – Steve Jernigan
2012 – Steve Millikin
2011 – Buddy Voan
2010 – Walter Lang
Workhorse Award
2025 - Michael Michael
2024 – Matt Lloyd
2023 – Christy Skelton
2022 – Donald Washburn
2021 – Charles Gunn
2019 – Konnie Coleman
2018 – Kathy Gossett
2017 – Leroy Nunn
2016 – Jean Harvell
2015 – Martha Owens
2014 – Beverly Doremus
2013 – Carolyn Morris
2012 – Sue Roby
2011 – Carolyn Lewis
2010 – Nell Thomason
Travel Award
2025 - White
2024 – White
2023 – White
2022 – White
2021 – Tri-County & Northeast District
2019 – Faulkner
2018 – White
2017 – White
2016 – Greene, Tri-County
2015 – Greene
2014 – Faulker
2013 – Arkansas
2012 – Tri-County
2011 – White
2010 – White
Marie Louise Fiser Award
2025 - Carson & Rhonda McGee
2024 – Lacie Beason Family
2023 – Roberson Family
2022 – Royce & Debbie Helms,
2021 – Wayne & Lisa Simpson
2019 – Buddy Phillips
2018 – Doty & Jennifer Reed
2017 – James Skelton Family
2016 – James Ratliff Family
2015 – Kristin Allen Family
2014 – John & Trish Monroe Family
2013 – Phillip & Pam Lloyd Family
2012 – Larry & Shirley Broomfield Family
Visitation Award
2025 - Steve Jernigan
2024 – Steve Jernigan
2023 – Steve Jernigan
2022 – Steve Jernigan
2021 – Steve Jernigan
2019 – Steve Jernigan
2018 – Steve Jernigan
2017 – Steve Jernigan
2016 – Georgia Ratliff
2012 – Thomas Goodale
2011 – Thomas Goodale
2010 – Steven & Marla Keady; Thomas Goodale
Lloyd Dunaway Memorial Award
2025 - Keith Pullen
2024 – Lisa Garner
2023 – Buddy Phillips
2022 – Shirley Broomfield
2021 – Steve Jernigan
2019 – Carolyn Wynn
Associate Hall of Fame
2025 - Kim Maple
2024 – James Johnson, Johnson Rides and Amusements
2023 – Debbie Wells, Wells Fun Company
2022 – James & Sondra Burlingame, Pride Amusements
2021 – Kenneth Johnson, Johnson Rides & Concessions
2019 – Clint Payne, Funtime Shows
2018 – Sue Miller, Miller Spectacular Shows
2017 – Johnny Maple, Kenny’s Funland
2016 – Terry Swyear, Swyear Amusements
2015 – John Hänschen, Thomas Carnival
2014 – Regalia Manufacturing
2012 – Tim Casper
2011 – Allied Insurance
2010 – Hot Springs Showman’s Assoc’.
Associate Remembrance Award
2025 - Pam Casper
2024 – Delmar Giles
2023 – Rickey Moore
2022 – Randy Johnson, Johnson Rides & Amusements
2021 – Kenny Maple, Kenny’s Funland
2019 – Ed Burlingame, Pride Amusements
2018 – Mokie Choates
Award Information & Nomination
Workhorse Award
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Nominee must be a member of an Arkansas county, district or State fair.
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Nominee must show interest in and support for Arkansas Fairs Nominee should exhibit qualities expressed by the name: Workhorse Award. Individual should exhibit outstanding support of a fair through individual effort and commitment.
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Nominee must be living at the beginning of the year the nomination is made.
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County, district or state fairs may submit only one nomination per year.
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Nominees shall be evaluated on: I. Years Of fair membership 2. Individual's contribution to fair 3. Benefit to fair resulting from individual's contribution
Mary Louise Fiser Family Award
Tri-County will sponsor and award to a "fair family" that works together making sure that Fairs continue to prosper and grow for future generations
Hall of Fame/Charles Smith Award
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Nominee may be living or deceased. A deceased candidate becomes ineligible five (5) years following his or her death.
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The nominee shall have served as a manager or CEO of an AFMA member fair. A candidate currently not managing a fair becomes ineligible five (5) years following his/her separation from manager's position.
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Nominee shall have been identified with the fair industry for a minimum of ten (IO) years.
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Nominee shall have contributed to the Arkansas fair industry, in addition to the nominee's own fair or association of fairs, something of value in the field of leadership and education that has proved of value and will continue to prove of value to fairs in the future.
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Nominee shall have been consistent in attending the meetings of the AFMA.
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Nominee shall have participated actively in the affairs of the annual convention.
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Nominee shall have developed and built-up his/her own fair or association of fairs and his/her own staff and working group.
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Distinguished achievement may include significant contributions to the knowledge and literature of the fair industry; the design or invention of material, equipment, processes, or technical services; Or outstanding service to associations, companies and other organizations serving the fair industry.
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An A FMA president shall not be considered for the Award until two (2) years after his/her term expires.
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Hall Of Fame Awards committee feels there are two such individuals who should be so recognized
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One shall be to an active, regular member and one to an associate member of the association.
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The same rules will apply to the Charles Smith Memorial Award. Only one award will be presented in lieu of the two presented in the Hall of Fame Award.
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These awards shall be in recognition of devoted and invaluable service tendered to the Arkansas Fair Industry. The presentation of the Awards shall be made at the annual convention. The Awards shall consist of a plaque with an appropriate citation and the name of the recipient inscribed thereon. The recipient's name shall be added to the A FMA Directory.
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Nomination should be accompanied by a memorandum giving a full and complete statement of the reason for proposing the nominee with a record of his/her professional an industrial achievement in sufficient detail to pass judgment on the candidate's worthiness to receive the Award.
Next Generation Leadership Award
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Purpose: To recognize an individual age 19–40 who demonstrates exceptional leadership, dedication, service, character, initiative, and potential for continued leadership within Arkansas fairs.
Ideal Recipient
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Accepts responsibility and leads others, with or without a formal leadership title.
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Consistently contributes beyond basic expectations.
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Builds relationships among volunteers, exhibitors, board members, staff, sponsors, and the community.
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Encourages or develops others and demonstrates integrity and dependability.
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Respects fair traditions while helping prepare the organization for the future.
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Shows a genuine commitment to continued involvement in Arkansas fairs.
Eligibility
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Be 19 through 40 years of age as of December 31 of the award year.
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Have completed at least three fair seasons of involvement with an Arkansas county, district, or state fair.
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Be a volunteer, employee, superintendent, committee member, board member, officer, manager, or other individual with significant fair responsibilities.
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Be in good standing with the represented fair.
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Not have previously received this award.
A nominee does not have to participate at the county, district, and state levels. Outstanding service at any one level is sufficient.
Innovation & Impact Award
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Purpose: To recognize an individual age 19–40 who has created, introduced, significantly improved, or championed an initiative that made a measurable positive difference for an Arkansas fair.
Innovation should be interpreted broadly. It may involve agriculture education, competitive exhibits, livestock shows, youth programming, operations, technology, ticketing, marketing, sponsorship, entertainment, guest experience, safety, accessibility, facilities, volunteer management, community partnerships, communications, sustainability, revenue generation, or expense reduction. An idea does not have to involve technology to be innovative.
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Eligibility
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Be 19 through 40 years of age as of December 31 of the award year.
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Be actively involved with an Arkansas county, district, or state fair holding current AFMA Active Membership.
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Have completed at least one full fair season with the organization.
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Have played a substantial role in developing, implementing, managing, or championing the nominated initiative.
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Have implemented the initiative within the previous three fair seasons.
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Provide evidence of the initiative’s results or benefits.
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Not have previously received this award.
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The idea does not have to originate entirely with the nominee. Effective adaptation of an idea from another fair or industry may qualify when the nominee demonstrates substantial local leadership and impact.