County fair official retires

Stultz oversaw gems, hobbies,

collections department

After 25 years of service to

he Ventura County Fair, Newbury Park resident Bob Stultz, superintendent of the Gems and Minerals, Hobbies and Collections department, has announced that he will retire for health reasons. Stultz spent 14 of those years as the superintendent of the department.

"It's great fun," said Stultz about his county fair experience, "I eat, sleep and drink the

air!" His experience in retail helped him in his success with

he department. "Getting the department ready for the fair is

eminiscent of a grand opening of one of my stores."

"I will remain involved with he fair and the fairgrounds,"

aid Stultz. His association with

he California Federation of Mineralogical Societies will bring him to the fairgrounds and o the fair in years to come.

"I would never stay away, I ove it here."

Stultz's wife, Jean, who's been head clerk of the department since 1975, will also be retiring this year in order to spend time with her family.

"We've seen so many changes here over the years and we feel that the department is in good shape. It's okay for us to move on now," Jean Stultz said.

The Gem and Mineral Department added Hobbies and Collections in 1996 under Bob Stultz's supervision and has grown into one of the major exhibition departments of the annual 12-day fair.

"Bob Stultz has worked very hard for the Ventura County Fair and has been a great superintendent. His volunteers are the cream of the crop. We are proud of him, we are grateful to him and we will miss him," said Barbara Boester-Quaid, CEO of the Ventura County Fairgrounds.