Dixon May Fair Pays Tribute to Legendary Volunteer, Donnie Huffman

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

DIXON, CA — Legendary volunteer Donnie Huffman of Vacaville, founding president of the Friends of the Dixon May Fair, drew applause, appreciation and tears on Thursday afternoon, May 5 when fair officials and fellow members of the Friends honored him with the unveiling of the “Friends Plaza” banner.

Huffman, 82, who is battling terminal cancer, rose from his wheelchair and thanked everyone for their support.

“I loved every minute of it,” he said.

The banner, soon to be a bronze plaque, includes an image of Huffman taken by his son Don Jr. The text reads: “Dedicated to the hundreds of local volunteers supporting agriculture programs for the youth of Solano County. Friends of Dixon May Fair since 2000.” It lists 19 names, topped with Donnie and his wife, Tootie. The couple celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on April 16.

The newly named Friends’ Plaza fronts the Leber Stage.

Patricia Conklin, CEO of the Dixon May Fair, thanked Huffman and the Friends for all their work in making the fair what it is today. A toast followed the 3:30 ceremony, and then the gates of the 145th annual fair opened to the public.

The Friends, an all-volunteer organization and the fundraising arm of the Dixon May Fair, raises funds by selling beverages. They use the proceeds for building and grounds improvements, exhibitor awards (including belt buckles and trophies), and college scholarships. Since 2000, the Friends have awarded more than $230,000 to Solano County students majoring in an ag-related field in a California college or university.

The Friends’ buildings and grounds improvements at the fair, valued in the millions, include building the RV park, the Pig Pavilion, the Wine Pavilion and the Friends’ Plaza. Their funds paved the midway and numerous other projects.

Huffman’s roots with fairs run deep and span three decades of service. He earlier served as president/founder of the Friends of the Solano County Fair, established in 1993. The proceeds from beverage sales went for building and grounds improvements, exhibitor awards and college scholarships. A tireless supporter of agriculture, and of youth groups, including 4-H, FFA and the Grange, Huffman also served as a Vacaville 4-H leader, lending his expertise on hogs and other projects. The Solano County 4-H Program honored him with its “Friend of 4-H” award.

Huffman served 11 years (2003-2013) as emcee of the popular Dixon May Fair Hog-Calling Contest, in which contestants aimed to get their hog into "four-squeal drive" or "hamward bound." The event drew national attention.

Among those present at the Dixon May Fair ceremony were his wife, Tootie; daughter Shelli Huffman Vasquez of Vacaville and son Don Huffman Jr. of Napa; sister Sharon Hulse of Fairfield; granddaughters Kristy Vazquez and Sarah Lincoln; and great-grandchildren Hunter Lincoln, 7, and Kensley Lincoln, 3.

Following the ceremony, Donnie Huffman presented his decorated Friends of the Fair badge and credentials to Hunter.

The belt buckles awarded to outstanding fair exhibitors are highly cherished. When a fire destroyed her family’s home and barn on Paddon Road in the Dixon-Vacaville area in May 2018, Gloria Maillard remembers digging through two feet of ash in what used to be her bedroom and finding only the remains of a prized belt buckle—the silver buckle awarded her by the Friends of the Fair in 2004.

“It was the only thing that survived in my room,” recalled Maillard, a former Solano County 4-H All-Star Ambassador and a 10-year member of the Vaca Valley 4-H Club, Vacaville. “It was one of my cherished possessions because it reminded me when I was named the supreme exhibitor for my swine project at the Solano County Fair.”

When Huffman heard about the loss, he immediately replaced it, awarding it to Maillard at a surprise ceremony at the 2018 Junior Livestock Auction. “It makes me proud — proud that people care,” she told the crowd.

Those who want to send a card to Donnie Huffman may do so in care of Sandy Bonesteel, Dixon May Fair, at P. O. Box 459, Dixon, CA. 95620.