In 1997 the Fair Board started a program called “Friends of the Fair”. The idea behind this program was to be able to show appreciation to several outstanding people for their efforts and contributions they made for the Fair. Each year the Fair Board votes for 5 individuals, that have proven to be an exceptional help to the well-being and yearly success of the fair. These folks are recognized at the Open Ceremonies on the first night of the Fair. They are presented with plaques and a life time pass to the fair. In addition, their names are listed in a show case that hangs in the Fair office.
Below are the names of the award recipients, if you know any of these individuals, please congratulate and thank them for their contributions to the fair.
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
| Donald Braim | J. Dale Grim | Gaye Haas | Steve Fetherolf |
| Delbert Koch | Naomi Grim | Robert Johnson | Henry Gruber |
| John Schaffer | William George | Richard Grim | Herman Handwerk |
| Clarence Schiffer | Abner Krumanocker | Paul Semmel | L. Thomas Kern |
| Nelson Tyson | Edwin Ziegler | Laura Spitko | Keith Stahley |
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
| Jason Kern | Tammy Burda | Harlan Blose | Keith Fenstermacher |
| Dennis Haas | Todd Kern | LaRue Blose | Susan Galinas |
| Rick Harring | Robert Sotak | Mary Handwerk | Joshua Grim |
| Carol Snyder | Homer Wentz | Elton Minnich | Carol Lichtenwalner |
| Jason Zellner | Harlan Wessner | Daniel Wehr | Lynn Litrenta |
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Barbara Wessner | Violet Baer | Sandra Bodnyk | Peggy Bowman |
| Ronald Heintzelman | Mike Bodnyk | Lucille Phillips | Leonard Houser |
| Sharon Hardenberg | Larue Guth | LeRoy Phillips | Mary Jane Sheckler |
| Gene Hardenberg | Pat Horstman | Chuck Horwith | Ted Rothrock |
| Elsie Schwarz | Norma Houser | Kornfeind’s Market | Nancy Kern |
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
| Jim Reis | Harold Remaley | Donald C. Kuntz | Darryl Kibler |
| Roma McKelvey | Arlene Remaley | Richard Koch | Leonard Nuss |
| Jean Krysiuk | Joann Adams | Doris Drabic | Leroy Haas |
| Ginny Sotak | Mark Hoffman | Eleanor Reynard | Bruce Stettler |
| Stephanie Reppert | Margarie Hoffman | Donavon Bauer | Robert Berger |
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| Kathy Haas | Kathy Lichtenwalner | Barbara Solt | Charles (Chip) Biegley |
| Terry Dunbar | Lori Wisser | Carol Bognor | Jessica Biegley |
| Keith Pavlack | Frank Hein | Douglas Houser | Henry Musselman |
| Roy Danner | Ronald Stahley | Kenny Rex | George Burda, Jr. |
| Zach Aicher | Sean Harding | Marvin Rex | Jim Wirth |
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Brian Haas | Darlene Brosky | ||
| Kurt Haas | Jeffrey Brosky | ||
| Charles Weida | Tom Burkhardt | ||
| Ashlee Soke | John Leibold | ||
| Xavier Fryslin |