Even before the Nebraska State Fair officially opened in Grand Island in 2010, Ben Murphy was a State Fair volunteer. He began volunteering as the fair was preparing to open for its community debut in the community, and logged a total of 80 hours of volunteer work that year.
Murphy has been volunteering ever since.
For the last 11 years, Murphy has donated more than 1,910 hours as a fair volunteer, said Courtney Lierman, Grand Island Chamber of Commerce vice president. She also heads the coordinated chamber and fair’s volunteer program.
Lierman said Murphy has worked in “just about every volunteer position offered at the fair.”
“He has stepped in to greet guests, shuttle individuals around on ADA accommodating golf carts. He has trained others; he’s assisted with assembly before fair, and tear down after the fair,” Lierman said.
Lierman has directed the fair’s volunteer program the last four years, with the goal of securing more than 800 volunteers. She works closely with Jaime Parr, State Fair deputy executive director.
