2021 Volunteer of the Year

Scott Vejraska, Okanogan County Fair

Scott is a third generation Cattle rancher living on the Sunny Okanogan Angus Ranch with his family. Together they run about 900 mother cows. He has been a lineman 24 years. He is also a Okanogan PUD commissioner for the past 7 years. He is on the AG advisory board for the Omak FFA. He belongs to the Okanogan and Washington Farm bureau and cattle producers of Washington.

Most importantly, he spends many hours at the Okanogan County Fair, where as a volunteer he keeps this event going.

2020 Volunteer of the Year

Ruth Weigelt

Ruth Weigelt, the President of the annual Lacey Spring fun Fair since 1991, was been selected to receive the first Washington Festivals and Events Association Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by Stages Northwest.

In 1988 when the need for a community festival in Lacey became apparent, the local Chamber of Commerce launched the Lacey Spring Fun Fair, a 2 day festival that celebrated community with kids’ activities, rides, and entertainment. Saint Martin’s College donated the space, the city of Lacey contributed financially and with volunteers and the Lacey Fire Department also provided volunteers. Weigelt stepped up to the call for volunteers to help organize the fair.

The first year’s attendance was 8,000, and by 1998 the event had grown to 20,000 spectators (the population in Lacey at that time was only 30,000!

After the 1999 Fun Fair, the Chamber decided not to continue the event and Lacey Community Events, a non- profit, was formed with the sole focus of carrying on the tradition started by the Chamber, with the support of the City of Lacey.

The non-profit was created and led by Weigelt, who brought along key people, some of whom continue to carry on the work of putting on the fair today. Each had a specific role -- from vendor coordination, volunteer recruitment, entertainment planning, site management and more.

Thirty-three years later, through her efforts of securing sponsorship, partnerships, vendor recruitment and business relationships, Lacey Spring Fun Fair continues to be totally free to attend.

Weigelt has also been active in many other areas of the community:

• North Thurston Citizens for Schools, Co-chair of citizen group supporting school bond & levy ballot initiatives since 2010.
• Lacey Metropolitan Park District, “Yes for Parks” committee chair,fund raising efforts for Lacey Parks & Recreation.
• YMCA volunteer and board member for over 40 years, Girl Scouts, the Soroptomist club and advisory councils for the Lacey Police Dept. & Lacey Fire district 3.
• Citizen representative on Hiring Committee for Lacey Police Chief (1985 & 2018), and Lacey Deputy Police Chief (2019)