Dianne Applewhite has been selected as the 2017 Washington Parish Fair Association Fair Honoree.

The 2017 Washington Parish Fair is dedicated to Applewhite, in appreciation and gratitude for her outstanding leadership, her unwavering dedication and her many years of service as a fair volunteer. She started her service to the fair as a member of the stage committee in 1998 and still serves on that committee today. She has rotated in and out of the position of chairman of the stage committee since 2006 giving others on the committee the opportunity to enjoy the awesome responsibility of lining up the outstanding entertainment that those who visit the fair have come to expect.

Applewhite has served on the nominating committee on four different occasions and was chairman of the catalog committee for four years. In 2012 she was asked to serve as vice president. During this time, Applewhite was diagnosed with breast cancer. She never failed to fulfill her duties and blessed us all with her dignity and grace. In 2014, Applewhite was elevated to the position of president of the fair. Applewhite amazed us all by proving that she is dedicated to doing what is best for the Fair. She made some tough decisions that many of us before her had skirted around, because we didn’t want to hurt someone else’s feelings.

Earlier this year, Applewhite was inducted into the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals’ Hall of Fame. This honor is bestowed on one individual each year who has shown exemplary dedication not only to their local organization but also to LAFF.

Applewhite was born in Bogalusa, to parents, Betty Stewart Crain, and the late Houston Crain. She has one daughter, Kisha Sandifer, and two grandchildren, Drew and McKayla Sandifer. She is married to Mike Applewhite and they reside outside of Bogalusa in the Mt. Pleasant community, where she was born and grew up. Dianne and Mike are active members of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.

Applewhite graduated from Bogalusa High School in 1975 and attended Southeastern Louisiana University. She worked for South Central Bell, which later became BellSouth, for 14 years. In 1993, she joined newly elected Johnny D. Crain as a member of the Clerk of Court staff. Applewhite is currently employed by Assessor James Stevenson as his Chief Deputy. She has 24 years of public service to the citizens of Washington Parish.

The success of our organization depends on volunteers. We are indeed fortunate to have dedicated people like Dianne Applewhite. It is an honor for the Washington Parish Fair Board and Committee Chairmen to dedicate the Washington Parish Fair to Dianne Applewhite.