Greeter – Jerene Battisti

Prayer – Bill Lever

Flag Salute – Jacob Frost

Song – No Song

Roving Mic – Patrick Collins

Guest Spoke Editor

Clinton Trimmer

Clint and his wife, Megan, have served as Salvation Army Officers for over a decade, ministering in Los Angeles, Montana, and Wyoming before coming to Bakersfield in 2021. As Corps Officers, they lead the church and community outreach of The Salvation Army, helping neighbors in need and offering hope to those on the margins of society. Their mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name. 

Visitors & Guests

Cody Brooks with Kern NECA was the guest of Steve Sanders

Krista Andrew and Jessica Turrubiates with Friends of Mercy were guests of President Toni Harper

Lisette Mira with Arise Psychiatric Medical Group was the guest of President Toni Harper

Toni Tax:

Adriana Bland brought Halloween themed T-shirt from her recent family trip to the San Diego Zoo.

President Toni brought car themed air fresheners which she gave to Kurt (old car smell) and Juan (apple) from her recent trip to Detroit. She also brought back plastic shopping bags from Target also from her trip to Detroit. There is some question if the bags are legal to be California. 

Good News:

Sarah Haggard informed the club that Rotary Social event planned for Thursday, October 22 has had to pivot to Friday, October 23. Getting together for cocktails will be at Crash Lounge 5:30 pm -7:00 pm. Henry Cho: The Empty Nest Tour at the Fox Theater is at 8 pm with doors opening at 7 pm. Club members are encouraged to get tickets in section A so that everyone can sit together.

It was shared that Ken Buermann is being inducted into the CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame. Congratulations on the honor Ken!

Mike Willis' hair - when he had hair, was red. The uni brow was too.

Ken Buermann shared that he is also excited to be the presenter at the November 5 meeting which happens to be is National Redhead Day. Ken will be sharing all things Ginger in recognition of this special day. 

Ben Taft shared that the Hodel food was not terrible last week.

George Granger shared that he turned 96 this week. Happy Birthday Mr. Granger!

Program:

Kern County Fair: Building on Tradition and Looking Ahead

Few events capture the spirit of Kern County quite like the Kern County Fair, and Sean Andrew, the Fair’s new CEO and General Manager, shared why the annual tradition remains as relevant and impactful as ever.

A Bakersfield native, Andrew stepped into the leadership role in July after years of involvement with the fair through the Friends of the Kern County Fair, where he previously served as president. His deep local roots and passion for the fair were evident throughout his presentation.

Andrew described this year’s fair as a success despite ongoing economic challenges. While many may think of the fair as twelve days of concerts, rodeos, carnival rides, and food, he emphasized that its impact extends well beyond the fairgrounds and far beyond fair season. Highlighting the fair’s reading program, food drive, and blood drive as examples of how the fair supports the community. Also, highlighted was the numerous youth and agricultural education programs intending to help raise up future agricultural leaders. 

He highlighted several crowd favorites, including the free concert series, the PRCA Rodeo, Fiesta del Charro Rodeo, monster trucks, and the fair’s ongoing effort to balance beloved traditions with new attractions with the food offerings. Looking ahead, fairgoers can expect changes to the carnival as the fair transitions to a new provider for future years.

Discussion during the question-and-answer session focused on preserving the character of the fair while navigating the realities of aging infrastructure, increasing costs, and state regulations. Andrew spoke about ongoing efforts to repair and improve facilities, often with support from community partners and the Friends of the Kern County Fair.

Perhaps the clearest takeaway was that the Kern County Fair is more than an annual event. It is an economic engine, a showcase for agriculture, a gathering place for the community, and a source of opportunity for young people across Kern County. Under Andrew’s leadership, the focus remains on strengthening those connections while ensuring the fair continues to serve future generations.