BERRIEN COUNTY — In front of a crowd of approximately 80 people, Chuck Miltenberger was presented with one of the Berrien County Youth Fair’s most prestigious awards — being named a Friend of the Fair.

The Niles man received the honor during the Berrien County Youth Fair’s annual meeting Saturday at the youth fairgrounds in Berrien Spring.

Miltenberger announced his intention to retire after serving 40 years as the fair’s superintendent of the dairy barn.

The Friend of the Fair award is presented annually to individuals, families, and/or businesses that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help with the many activities at the youth fair.

Jerry Cuthbert, of Buchanan, and Steve Ertman, of Benton Harbor, received awards for their extra volunteer hours in 2015.

Karen Klug, board secretary of the youth fair, also thanked Matthew Koebel and the Williams Shuler family, of Baroda, for all they’ve done for the fair.

Koebel, who showed the grand champion dairy animal at the 2015 fair, donated to the fair’s Expo Arena the proceeds of the gallon of milk sold at the large animal auction — a total of $10,650.

The Shuler family, for their part, provided dairy animals for exhibitors to work with throughout the summer months and then show at the fair.

Also at the meeting, Ashley Schmaltz, of Baroda, was named the fair’s Outstanding 20-Year-Old Exhibitor. The award is given based on a point system covering youth fair participation and volunteer hours performed outside of fair week. She received a $300 scholarship. Second place went to Maria Pinkowski, of Baroda, and third place went to Mary Behnke of Berrien Springs. They received $200 and $100 scholarships, respectively.

During the business portion of the meeting, Klug reported the association’s total operating income of $1,375,705 and total operating expenditures of $1,375,539 resulting in an increase in unrestricted net assets of $166.

“Overall we had a decent year,” Klug said. “All obligations have been paid in full and as you can see from the numbers, we are a true non-profit. The association remains in sound financial position.”

The following incumbents were nominated and elected for an additional three-year term on the fair’s board of directors: Rob Christner of Berrien Springs; Bruce Foster of Berrien Center; Kala Hoover of Stevensville; Ken Kuespert, of Niles; Cathy Reifschneider of Stevensville; and Brooke Totzke, of Baroda. Kelly Ewalt, of Berrien Springs, was elected to finish a one year term.

The board also elected the following officers:

• President, Bruce Foster, of Berrien Center

• First Vice President, Tiffany Rydwelski, of Buchanan

• Second Vice President, Corey Burks, of Berrien Springs

• Secretary, Karen Klug, of Eau Claire

• Treasurer, Susan Coulston, of Niles

Next year’s fair is scheduled for Aug. 15-20 with the theme, “Kick Up Your Heels.”