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Dumas is new GM of Woodstock Fair
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
WOODSTOCK --- "This is the one fair everyone wants to go to. I will maintain the integrity of this fair," said the newly named general manager of the Woodstock Agricultural Society's Woodstock Fair.
Bob Dumas of Moosup, who started his new job March 5, is passionate about maintaining the country feel of the Woodstock Fair. A native of Canterbury, he's been coming to the Woodstock Fair his whole life. Dumas, who recently retired after 35 years with the state Department of Transportation, Office of Construction, said he's also come to the fair with one of his other passions, classic cars. As president of the Yankee Yesteryear Car Club, he's brought his cars to the gaggle of antique cars set up by the Brunn Barn. During breaks he and his wife walk around the fairgrounds, they marvel, he said, at "the feel of a nice fair."
Dumas said he saw an advertisement for the position in December and thought "that would interest me." Many applied he said, and the process involved many interviews. He brings his work experience and his management experience to the job, he said.
He believes his experience in the car club, working with volunteers and putting on events, may have helped him win the job.
He's just getting his bearings, in week one on the job. Currently maintenance of the fairgrounds continues, as always. "We prepare for off-season events, the opening of the fair and maintenance of the fairgrounds," he said. No major projects stand between now and the opening of the fair.
The staff and volunteers all have "long-time experience." "To put on a quality event, you need quality people," he said, and the agricultural society has that in spades.
"The purpose of the fair is to promote agriculture," he said.