She Gives More Than Her Fair Share Co-Workers Agree Midge Kristin, 77, Embodies The Spirit

Ask fair manager Barb Renner about a dedicated fair supporter. With no hesitation, she’ll smile and say, “Her name’s Midge.”

Midge Kristin lives for the North Idaho Fair. In fact, she says it’s helping her redirect her life after losing her husband a year ago.

She’s earned the admiration of her colleagues for her dedication and determination to never stop learning.

The 77-year-old Coeur d’Alene native works from March through August as a secretary to the fair board.

As premium coordinator, she works with judges, superintendents and entry clerks.

Her fair-time duties include taking care of entries, preparing ribbons for judges and tabulating judging cards as they come back to the office.

“I was privileged to go to Clarkston to learn to do pay-outs on the ground,” she said.

The training helps her see that exhibitors receive their checks for ribbon awards before the fair ends.

“She’s the essence of what the fair’s all about,” said Jeannie Edinger, commercial exhibits coordinator. “She never quits learning and she’s been a help to me because I’m not into the computer aspect of my job.”

Renner recalled that when the fair staff first started using computers, Midge took it upon herself to sign up for a computer course.

“She was about 72 at the time and an excellent typist,” Renner said. “I told her she really didn’t need to learn computers for her duties here.”

Always looking ahead, Midge told Renner, “Yes, but this will look good on my resume.”

Administrative assistant Terri Jaeger said Midge also purchased a computer six months ago with features matching the fairground’s machines.

“I’m sure she’s involved (with the fair) at home as much as she is at work,” Jaeger said. “I know she works into the wee small hours.”

Midge first worked with fair management back in 1976 as a part-time typist for former fair manager Martin Britz. That was when the fair office was still a part of the University of Idaho Cooperative Extension office. Since then, she’s moved along with the office to its new headquarters on the fairgrounds.

“She knows the fairgrounds backwards and forward,” Jaeger said, “and she always knows the answers. She’s excellent public relations for the fairgrounds.”

Midge’s roots with the local fair run deep. She served as foods leader for the Fernan Homesteaders about 35 years ago when her daughter took 4-H projects.

“We cooked a lot different than we do today,” she recalled. “We learned everything from scratch in those days. They liked to make pancakes.”

Although her family is now grown and gone, Midge still bakes her specialties of bread, rolls and cakes “if I can find someone to give it to.”

“That’s usually not a problem,” she added. She loves the North Idaho Fair because it brings people together.

“It gives education on fruits, vegetables and canning,” she said. “People are privileged to see things they don’t usually see.”

Through her work over the years, she also has observed that the annual activity gives the family a good outing together.

“We always giggle because the fair is food,” she said. “They can come and sample all the goodies and then go for rides at the carnival.”

Besides the hours she dedicates to the fair organization, Midge also does her share to enhance its creative competition. She knits doilies and tablecloths.

“Knitting is my pastime,” she said. “I won a premium award about three years ago on my tablecloth. That was pretty neat.”

, DataTimes