06/25/2026
Volunteer Spotlight: Pat Taylor
For this week's Volunteer Spotlight, we sat down with longtime volunteer Pat Taylor and simply had a conversation about her many years at the fair. Hearing her stories and memories was incredibly rewarding!
Pat has been a loyal Mississippi Valley Fair volunteer for more than 40 years. She currently serves as Superintendent of the Textiles Department, but many fairgoers may remember her from her years volunteering in the Culinary Division.
A little-known fact about Pat? She has an entire filing cabinet full of ribbons and awards! In fact, she's won nine Best of Class awards in baked goods—and that's just the beginning of her impressive collection.
When it comes to fair food, Pat doesn't hesitate: taco salad and corn dogs are must-haves every single year.
One of Pat's favorite fair memories came when, at 90 years old her mom won a Blue Ribbon for her chocolate cake. Another cherished memory was when family members surprised her by traveling all the way from New York to visit her at the fair.
For Pat, one of the best parts of the fair is seeing her "fair family"—the many longtime volunteers she has worked alongside for decades. She also looks forward to seeing friends from church each year as they stop by to support her.
Pat's Fun Facts:
Food or rides? The food, of course!
Day shift or night shift? Morning shift.
Favorite volunteer survival tip? Comfortable clothes are a must!
Favorite people-watching moment at the fair?
"Seeing kids win their very first ribbon."
What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering?
"Do it! You'll make lifelong friends that become part of the fair family."
Make sure you stop by the Starlite Ballroom during the fair and to say hi to Pat and all the other volunteers. Remember, Pat LOVES corndogs.
Thank you, Pat, for your dedication, passion, and more than four decades of service to the Mississippi Valley Fair. Volunteers like you are what make our fair so special! 🌟
