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Melvin Miller has been a fixture at the Mower County Fair for nearly five decades and he received a big nod of approval when he was named the Mower County Fairperson of the Year during the opening ceremony on Tuesday.

Miller has worked security and he’s also worked the horse show, where many of the competitors call him “grandpa.” Miller also has a reputation of lighting a quick touch on the timer during racing competitions.

Mower County Fair Board President Kevin Finley said that Miller has done a great job of keeping attendees and participants in line over the years.

“I was a kid when he was here and doing security,” Finley said. “He’s been very involved with the horse show for almost 50 years. He always made sure the kids were behaving.”

Miller did everything from crowd control, to chasing after loose animals, including a wild pig that was dubbed pig 108 during one past fair.