LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Fair Foundation has elected Middletown natives Grant and Ross Hardester as the grand marshals for the 2016 Lake County Fair.

The Hardesters will lead the fair’s 5:30 p.m. kickoff parade and ribbon cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, beginning the “Party with the Animals.”

The Hardesters' roots go back five generation in Lake County with Ross and Grant’s parents being raised in Middletown.

John Irwin and Reed Hardester started a grocery business in Middletown in 1943. The original name was the "Corner Store.” The Hardester family bought out the Irwins in the 1970s.

Currently, Hardester’s Markets and Hardware have three locations in Southern Lake County – Middletown, Cobb and Hidden Valley. The stores employ 155 people from the local community.

Hardester’s Markets have a longstanding relationship with the Lake County Fair. Since the 1960s, the Hardesters have purchased animals every year from the annual Junior Livestock Auction, as well as supported the fair by selling the fair’s presale tickets to patrons at all their locations.

Grant Hardester has been a member of the Middletown Merchants Association, serving in various leadership roles and on the committee that established the Middletown Area Plan.

Ross Hardester has volunteered with the junior and high school rodeo for the past three years, the Boys Scouts of America, and coaches Little League.

Both of the men helped residents that suffered in last year’s Valley fire and continue supporting residents impacted by the recent Clayton fire.

The Valley fire of 2015 not only changed lives, it changed the business perspective of the Hardesters.

In the early hours of the Valley fire, PG&E delivered a generator providing power to ensure that the Middletown location could serve as a sanctuary to those remaining in the community, fire personnel and news media.

The store was the cornerstone of our community during the devastating fire. The Hardesters exemplified the best in people from our community. Phones rang constantly as the store became an
information center for those that wanted to know how they could help.

Because of the Hardesters, the word community became synonymous with kindness, compassion and
hope. The Hardesters found a positive – our community pulls together like family.

“We are honored to have them lead us this year at the annual Lake County Fair’s
parade,” said Fair Chief Executive Officer Debbie Strickler.

The fair kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 1, with a parade up Main Street, followed at 6 p.m. by the opening ceremonies at the main entrance. The fair ends Sept. 4.

The fair is one of Lake County’s favorite summertime events enjoyed by more than 35,000 people each year, featuring a variety of free entertainment, food, exhibits, carnival and livestock shows.

More information can be obtained at www.lakecountyfair.com .