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Only woman on board feels at home
By Elise Franco
Canfield
Kathy Bennett is the only woman ever to have served on the Canfield Fair Board of Directors, but she’s just like one of the guys.
Bennett, of Green Township, said she never thought about serving on the fair board before she filled out the application 18 years ago at the suggestion of several people.
“Really, it came about because I knew some people who thought there should be a woman on the board,” she said. “It wasn’t in the back of my mind or anything until then because there had never been a woman, so it never came up.”
Bennett, 72, was elected to the 17-person board in 1992 and began her term as the manager of the pumpkin building. She now manages the Fine Arts, Floral and Arts and Crafts buildings.
Bennett said the Canfield Fair has a paid membership for anyone in Mahoning County.
Those members elect the directors, who serve three-year terms. Bennett said it’s uncommon for a director not to be re-elected.
Because Bennett had been showing animals at the fair her whole life and her father used to serve on the board, she knew she would be welcomed without any issues.
“I think people thought then men were going to ignore me, but it was the opposite of that entirely,” she said. “They were welcoming and accepting.”
George Roman, who’s been a director for 24 years, said Bennett has been an asset to the board.
“It’s been fantastic,” he said. “It was a natural fit for her to come in.”
Roman said Bennett has done well managing her departments over the years.
“Kathy has a keen eye for the departments she handles,” he said.
Bennett said she’s never run into any real problems working on a board with 16 men.
“I went into it knowing it was all men,” she said. “I’m not really surprised at how welcoming they were because they’re all very nice men, all gentlemen.”
George Less, who also was on the board when Bennett came on, said he worked closely with her during his two-year term as board president.
A new president is selected in succession every two years.
“I was privileged enough to have her as my vice president when I was president,” he said. “Kathy is top-notch in everything she does and was a great addition to this board.”
Bennett said more than anything, she’s enjoyed being able to work so closely with her follow directors for nearly two decades.
“Trying to maintain that reputation of quality that people know is really what I enjoy,” she said. “This is very much a working board, and that’s the reason for our fair’s success.”