Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Since 1997, Ami Pitt has overseen all activities in the activity tent at the Kosciusko 4-H and Community Fair.
Her daughter, Sarah, will assume those responsibilities each day during this year's fair July 17-22.
Sarah said, "You'll still see Mom around the fair - she'll be helping my sister with her 4-H activities at the other end of the fairgrounds.
"I've been in the tent every year since my mother started. I was 8 years old then."
In 1996, Sarah was named the Kosciusko County Fair's Little Miss, participated in the state competition and was named runner-up. Last year, Ami did the preliminary work and Sarah ran the actual activities in the tent in preparation for taking over all the functions.
When asked why she wanted to assume the responsibility, Sarah said, "It's a chance to make a difference - get involved. I like working with children. Right now, I'm working as a babysitter at the Y. My favorite activities are the ones on Kiddies' Day." Those events feature games and other activities by the YMCA and Applebee's, Lake City Bank coin hunt, bike and toy give-aways by Plummer & Co., storytime with the Warsaw Community Public Library and the Ronald McDonald Show.
This year's children's pageants will be held July 17-19 in the evenings and include: Monday: Miss Teenage, ages 13-15; Junior Miss and Mister, 9-12 years old; and the Senior Talent Contest for ages 13-19; Tuesday: Mister and Miss Toddler, 2-year-olds, and Mister and Miss Pre-School, for ages 3-4 years old; Wednesday: Little Mister and Miss, 5-8 years old, and the Junior Talent Contest, for ages 12 and under.
Entertainment in the activity tent will feature: Sunday Gospel Sing - Celebration Band, CBC Praise Team and House of the Living Stones; Thursday - Beyond the Light, Josh Warner, Carbon Copy and Fore Runner; and Friday - These Burning Bridges, Unfinished Business, Pluto's Ladder and The Un-Folding.
Emcees for events in the activity tent will be the 2006 Miss Kosciusko County Fair Queen, Krystalle Johnson, and Erika Wilson, first runner-up in the queen competition.
Sarah will be assisted by Suzanne "Zanni" French and Courtney Lewis.
Sarah and Zanni share a unique friendship. Zanni has lived in South Africa, the daughter of missionaries, for the past 12 years. She returned to Warsaw every three years when her parents were on furlough.
Her parents are John and Christine French; John is a native of Warsaw, and Christine is South African. Sarah met Zanni when they were in "Mrs. K's" fifth-grade Sunday school class at Pleasant View Bible Church. They have kept in touch over the years writing letters and with a few phone calls. The Frenches are in Warsaw waiting for their next assignment.
Sarah is 17 and the daughter of David and Ami Pitt of Warsaw. She will enter her senior year of home schooling this fall, plans to become an elementary teacher and would like to teach in a missionary school.
