The Rocky Mountain Fairs Association awarded Expo Idaho and Western Idaho Fair’s own Hans Bruijn as the 40th Annual Fair Person of the Year. This is the 40th year the award has been given to an individual who exceeds the expectations of their job.

Hans has spent the past 15 years working as the Premium Office Coordinator at Western Idaho Fair. He oversees the 4-H, FFA, and open class exhibitions. His responsibilities for the fair are wide with overseeing many thousands of exhibitors and entries in departments from Ceramics to Flowers and Sheep to Draft Horses. His role is integral to bringing Western Idaho Fair to life each August.

Hans kicked off a rewarding agricultural journey at 20 years-old when he moved from Holland to the US in 1977. He rented his own dairy farm in Idaho and moved his small herd of cattle across the country. He is a long-standing member of the Meridian Dairy Board and now serves as the President. He plays an integral role with the parade, dairy shows and competitions, and scholarship program. Thanks in part to his leadership, the parade has grown to be the largest parade in Idaho.

Throughout his career, Hans has been dedicated to improving his community, whether that was taking zoom calls as “St. Nicholas”, volunteering for local youth soccer programs, or working with organizations to provide scholarships to students keeping agriculture alive and growing in Idaho.

Congratulations to Hans on the RMFA Fair Person of the Year award. It was well deserved.