The 2022 Henry County Fair Book is dedicated to long-time Fair supporter, Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor Jim Cloar. An emotional Cloar was surprised Monday night by the announcement, which was made at an FFA Alumni meeting.
Family and friends surprised Cloar and hid in the Enoch Building until the announcement was made. His son, J. Alan Cloar came all the way from Georgia for the special announcement.
Cloar said his thankful and honored he was at the dedication.
Cloar and his wife, Bonnie, have been married 53 years and have two children, including J. Alan and Jennifer, and four grandchildren, Catherine and Timothy Cloar and Emerson and Audra Vick.
Emerson and Audra will be carrying on the family tradition in the Junior Livestock Building during the upcoming fair and Cloar will be right there with them.Cloar has been a mentor to many Henry County students and fair participants in his lengthy career as agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor. He also has managed AJC Farms in the Cottage Grove area.
The Fair Book dedication calls Cloar “a son, husband, Daddy, grandfather, leader, friend, and Captain”.
During the Henry County Fair, you can always find Cloar in the Livestock Building, lining up steers or talking with students and parents about their projects.
The Fair Book dedication notes how hard-working Cloar has always been. He earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science at the University of Tennessee at Martin and his master’s degree at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
As an FFA advisor, Cloar worked with students teaching them how to compete and about public speaking, parliamentary procedure and business planning over the years. Most importantly, according to the Fair Book dedication, Cloar has been a ‘connector’, who has always worked to bring people from different communities and backgrounds together to improve life for all.
The 2022 Fair Book will be available to the public around the Fourth of July.
