2018 July PASO Magazine

Checking in with the CMSF Heritage Foundation
Members exhibit dedication, determination,
and a deep commitment to the COMMUNITY
By Meagan Friberg
As plans were underway for the 2018 California
Mid-State Fair, I had a chance to
catch up with a dedicated member of our
local community – Heritage Foundation
Chairman Dave Belmont.
If you don’t know about the CMSF
Heritage Foundation, take a moment to
read its Mission Statement: To preserve
and enrich the heritage of the 16 th District
Agricultural Association and showcase agricultural
industries to the community; to offer support to the 4-H and
FFA projects and create agricultural education opportunities; maintain a
standard of excellence in the facilities and create capital improvement
opportunities and to serve as an arm of the California Mid-State Fair
that can accept charitable donations.
Currently, the Foundation boasts more than 350 members. Serving
on the Heritage Foundation Board of Directors alongside Belmont are:
Daren Friedle, vice chairman; Debbie Dusi, secretary; Deana Nelson,
financial officer, along with Susan Beebe, Mike Coon, Joanne
Cummings, Brenda Fletcher, Tim Hartzell, Patricia Lawrence, John
Peschong, Hugh Pitts, Michael Torgerson and Denise Stornetta.
“Our members are people who want to give back to our community,”
said Belmont. “There are generations of families involved in the
Mid-State Fair and the Heritage Foundation. We enjoy giving back
and seeing how the fairgoers appreciate the projects and improvements
we have made over the years.”
Since its inception in 1999, the Heritage Foundation has donated more
than $8,000,000 worth of capital improvements to the fair grounds.
Donations and projects have included: hog panels, shade cloths, scales,
covered equestrian arena, sales ring building, modified arena grandstands,
the Heritage Building and Commercial Building 3.
The most recent and perhaps the most amazing project completed to
date was dedicated just before the start of the 2017 fair – the 100,000
square foot Paso Robles Pavilion, located on the northeast side of the
fairgrounds. To say the 4-H and FFA kids and
their animal projects benefited from this new
addition to the fair is an understatement.
The original building was from the 1950’s
and had become inadequate, according to
Heritage Foundation Board Member Brenda
Fletcher. “We’d wanted to do a project like
this since 2008, and we were finally able to
take on the financial aspects and make it a
reality,” she said. “The kids deserve this and
that is always our goal.”
The Pavilion also built a resurgence in interest about the Heritage
Foundation, according to Belmont. “A lot of people saw the building,
went inside it, noticed what we had accomplished and wanted to
know more about what we do so they became members and are
working alongside us now.”
Thank you to all of the CMSF Heritage Foundation members
for your dedication, determination, and deep commitment to our
local community!
CMSF HERITAGE FOUNDATION
One hundred percent of all monies received through
membership and fundraising events for the
CMSF Heritage Foundation go back into the
Mid-State Fair and Paso Robles Events Center.
During the fair, July 18-29, they have five popular
concessions on the fairgrounds that help raise
funds including the Island Bar & Grill.
For more information, call 805-238-3745
or see thecmsfheritagefoundation.org;
be sure to give them a “like” on Facebook
at California Mid-State Fair Heritage Foundation.
PAGEANT, From Page21
Previous winners have also returned
to help with the pageant in
various ways in practical help and
through sponsorship, said Patti.
To name a few, Katlyn Kaney
(2002), who entered her competition
on a dare by friends and
family, is now CEO of Cattaneo
Brothers. Destini Cavaletto (2004)
now General Manager of Santa
Margarita Ranch, will serve as a
judge this year. Savannah Hoagland
Romero (2012), currently the
CMSF 2017 Pageant Queen with
1 st and 2 nd runner ups
Wine Club Manager at La Vigne
Winery, serves as one of Patti’s
assistants. Riley Shannon (2015) is
helping contestants with interview
skills this year.
“We have had some women that
competed in the California Mid-
State Fair Pageant also compete in
in other systems,” said Courtney
Lucas, Auditor for the pageant,
who assists her mother, Patti,
throughout the pageant season.
“Tommy Lynn Calhoun, who was
our Queen in 2010, competed
for Miss California USA, as well
as Miss Arizona USA.” Calhoun
was crowned Miss Arizona USA
in 2017.
“If anyone would like to be a
contestant, they only need to fill
out an application and turn it in
by the due date, usually in April,”
said Courtney. “It’s a fun event, and
it really does involve a sisterhood
who supports one another.”
Admission and parking are free.
For more information, call
California Mid-State Fair
Pageant Coordinator
Patti Lucas at 805-239-0555
or visit midstatefair.com.
22 | pasomagazine.com PASO Magazine, July 2018