[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 151 (Thursday, September 19, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING NANCY WHEELER-NICHOLS AS THE KERN COUNTY FAIR PERSON OF THE 
                                  YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 2019

  Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Nancy 
Wheeler-Nichols, who has been selected as the 2019 Person of the Year 
by the Kern County Fair, a county that I'm honored to represent in this 
Chamber.
  Nancy, a graduate of Bakersfield's Garces High School and the 
University of San Diego, first started volunteering with the Kern 
County Fair in 1989, almost 30 years ago, when she was painting faces, 
putting together buttons, and inspiring a new generation of leaders to 
become involved in Agriculture. Nancy was appointed to the Board of the 
Kern County Fair in 2003 and has been a consistent presence for over 15 
years in the fair's operations. Her agricultural insights have taken 
her beyond the needs of my district, however, as she was recently 
appointed by then Governor Jerry Brown to the Board of Directors for 
California's Mid State Fair.
  Outside of her work with the Kern County Fair, Nancy has served our 
community through a variety of organizations, including the Junior 
League of Bakersfield. She has been a tireless and much-needed voice 
for children experiencing abuse and neglect as a Court Appointed 
Special Advocate, and also on the board of the California Living 
Museum, an animal rehabilitation facility in my district that 
specializes in nursing back to health many of California's most 
vulnerable species.
  In Kern County, agriculture is the lifeblood of our community, and 
the Kern County Fair has emerged as one of the biggest showcases of 
livestock and talent in our agricultural community. Although Nancy no 
longer lives in Bakersfield or Kern County, she is one of our own who 
consistently makes Kern County proud. Through her time and expertise, 
Nancy has made a tangible impact in our community and has made her a 
staple of the Kern County community.
  Kern County Fair Person of the Year is a well-deserved honor for 
Nancy, who has provided years of public service to our community and 
has contributed to countless events, successful animal shows, and old-
fashioned family fun. A selfless leader, Nancy juggles her volunteer 
and board work along with raising horses, cattle, and her four 
children: Kelsey, Jake, Sawyer, and Tommy. On behalf of our community, 
the Kern County Fair Board, and the thousands of people who have 
benefited from her guidance, I want to thank Nancy and her husband 
Jimmy for all that they do, and congratulate her on being the Kern 
County Fair's 2019 Person of the Year.