UMATILLA COUNTY FAIR
From cupcakes to chaperoning
Volunteer of the Year
Alice Newman plays
major part in fair
By Emily Olson
EO Media Group
A
lice Newman doesn’t just
plan the Umatilla County
Fair’s annual appreciation
dinner. She and her granddaugh-
ters bake all 400 cupcakes served
for dessert.
She also organizes the kick-
off barbecue, works the livestock
scales, chaperones the fair court
and serves whatever offi ce duties
are left unmanned.
“If it needs to get done, I’ll
do it,” she said. “That’s what I’m
here for.”
Newman has been a fair vol-
unteer since 1973, assisting 10
different fair managers. She was
awarded the 2016 Female Volun-
teer of the Year for her dedication.
But for Newman, working the fair
is about more than just service —
it’s a family affair, as well as a
way to shape the community she
loves.
Newman’s fi rst visit to the
Umatilla County Fair was a wel-
come break from unpacking mov-
ing boxes. She and her husband,
Gay, who serves as chairman of
the board of directors, moved
from Washington the same week
the fair opened for what was sup-
Staff photo by Emily Olson
Fair court chaperon Alice Newman helps princesses Kira Krumbah-Kuhar,
Karolyn Jones and Janessa Prewitt prepare for the Athena Caledonian
Parade on July 9.
posed to be a temporary stay.
Gay had a summer contract with
Hansell Farms.
The year was 1972. Newman
has been to the fair every year
since.
Her husband stayed on with
Hansell because Hermiston felt
like home. In 1973, the two be-
came 4-H leaders. They loved
how the program helped the youth
develop a sense of responsibility
and leadership.
“If you talk to any legislator,
they’ll tell you that any money we
put into 4-H and FFA kids comes
back tenfold,” Gay said. “They
become the kind of people you
need in society.”
Newman has since worked in
various 4-H roles, including food
preparation superintendent and
Cloverbuds supervisor. After her
daughters served on the fair court
in 1989, 1992 and 1993, Newman
started volunteering as a chaper-
one, the position for which she
spends the majority of her volun-
teer time today.
For the court’s full year term,
Newman serves as the woman in
charge of up to four princesses.
That includes shopping for match-
ing outfi ts, scheduling parade ap-
pearances, coordinating volun-
teer work and “watching the girls
grow,” she said.
“The fi rst time you get them,
they’re energetic but kind of ner-
vous,” she said. Newman coaches
the girls on how to present them-
selves publicly, in everything
from posting on social media to
giving speeches. One of her recent
princesses continued on to be-
come a television show host. An-
other became a teacher. They all
become confi dent young women,
Newman said.
“She’s the best court chap-
erone out there,” said princess
Kira Krumbah-Kuhar, who has
known Alice for over three years.
The princesses appear at so many
events they often lose count.
Newman doesn’t just keep
them on track, she’s “a kick in
the pants,” said princess Janes-
sa Prewitt. And she’s “defi nite-
ly a second mom,” often guiding
the young women through stress
relating to family and school, ac-
cording to princess Carolyn Jones.
Aside from mentoring the prin-
cesses, Newman’s favorite part of
the fair is spending time with her
family. All of her 13 grandchil-
dren, ranging in age from 1 to 23,
will be in attendance this year.
“Our family vacation has al-
ways been the week of fair,” she
said. For nine days, she’ll camp
with her husband in RV, watching
the grandkids participate in 4-H
and enjoy the carnival.
And, of course, she’ll be per-
forming whatever last-minute
volunteer duties are needed.
Umatilla County Fair Board of Directors
GAY
NEWMAN
MEL
KEELY
CYNDIE
DRISCOL L
STEVE
ANDERSON
DAN
DORRAN
DON
MILLER
LUCAS
WAGNER
BOB
WOLFE
Chairman
Vice
Chairman
Sponsorship
and Activities
Director
Board
Member
Board
Member
Board
Member
Board
Member
Board
Member
8 | Umatilla County Fair Guide 2017