Rural Olympics Hall of Fame The Rural Olympics Hall of Fame

The Rural Olympics Hall of Fame was founded in May, 2005. Our Mission is to honor those whose outstanding actions and extraordinary contributions to the Rural Olympics have resulted in its continued success, popularity, and quality. The Museum will collect, preserve and display artifacts and historical information pertaining to the Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival Rural Olympics for the purpose of documenting the agricultural heritage of the Antelope Valley for future generations.

2014 Rural Olympics Hall of Fame

2014 ROHOF Inductees

2014 Rural Olympics Hall of Fame Induction. Receiving the Golden Hay Hook Awards at the AV Fair Kickoff dinner are from left: John Krueger, Darth Eliopulos, Bert Weststyn, and Pete Weststyn.

2014 ROHOF Inductees

Darth EliopulosDarth Eliopulos 2014 Inductee

Darth Eliopulos joined the Rural Olympics Committee as a young man in 1975. His first job was as a Runner, delivering the timers and judges results from the infield to the announcer with as much speed as possible. Darth continuously served on the committee serving in several capacities including Announcer from 1983 – 2000, and AV Fair Director in charge of the Rural Olympics from 2002 through 2013.
Serving on the Board of Directors at the Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival has been a common trait of the Eliopulos family since Darth’s great uncle Gus served on the first board in 1941. Darth’s dad Ted Eliopulos was a fair Director from 1973 through 1993, and Darth served as an AV Fair Director from 2001 to 2013.

Darth pictured with start flag during 2004 Rural Olympics

 

John Krueger

John Krueger 2014 Inductee

In 1961 John Krueger competed in the Rural Olympics for the first time as a driver in the Men’s Tractor Stake Race with Sickle Bar. He competed another fifteen times until 1976. John joined the Rural Olympics Committee in 1993 and has served in many capacities since. John became Vice Chairman in 2012. He was instrumental in bringing back the Tug – of – War Contest, but instead of Eastside farmers versus Westside farmers, John formed a competition between four local high school wrestling teams, as well as a battle of the bands from their respective schools.

John is the ninth second generation inductee into the Rural Olympics Hall of Fame, his father Ray was inducted in 2008. He also received the Blue Ribbon Award from the Western Fairs Association for over twenty years as an Antelope Valley Fair volunteer.

John pictured with Tug of War rope at 2013 Rural Olympics

The Weststyn Brothers – Bert and Pete

Bert and Pete Weststyn competed as a team in the signature event of the Rural Olympics, The Hay Loading Event, for the first time in 1986 when they took home third place money. The next three years no one could beat them. From 1986 through 2011 they competed at least 19 times as a team, coming in first eleven times, second four times, and third four times.Pictured are 2001 Rural Olympics Hay Loading Champions Bert (white ball cap) & Pete (red tank top) with good friend Tony Machado The brothers established a record in 1987, the second year they competed, which would never be broken (the number of bales was reduced from 64 to 48 in 1994). In 2001 they again established a record which as of 2013 had not been equaled with 48 bales loaded and unloaded in 3 minutes 18.31 seconds.

The Weststyn Brothers - Bert and Pete 2014 Inductees

The Weststyns are the third set of brothers to be inducted in the ROHOF, but only the second set of brothers to be inducted as a team, the others being the Legendary Losey Brothers who also competed in the Hay Loading Contest.

Bert also competed in the Hay Squeeze twice, in 2000 and 2001, winning both times.

Pictured are 2001 Rural Olympics Hay Loading Champions Bert (white ball cap) & Pete (red tank top) with good friend Tony Machado

Inductees:

July 2019
Glenn Losey II
Lori Losey

July 2018
Max Harter
Randy Jaqua

July 2017
Paul Knapp
Rich Breault
Liz Breault

July 2016
John Calvert
David Calvert

July 2015
Pete Knapp
Julie Kyle

July 2014
John Krueger
Darth Eliopulos
Bert Weststyn
Pete Weststyn

July 2013
Giovanni Simi
Chris Planellas
Steve McCormack
Randy Hall

July 2012
Bill Rawlings
Danny Taylor
John Knapp
Scott Harter

July 2011
Jeff Godde
Marleen Griffin
Tom Hall
Terry Rice
Gonzalo Rodriguez
Bruce Yates

July 2010
Ralph Bozigian
Ted Eliopulos
Harold Johnson
Frank Lori
Bill Offingai
Rick Offinga
Bob Yates

July 2009
Wayne Arnold
Ron Carter
Whit Carter
Don Jaqua, Jr.
Sheldon Jaqua
“Old Militia” / Ernie Bailey
Vern Wemple

July 2008
Mel Clark
Al Duncan
Otis Fairchild
John Hemme
Bobby Jones
Judge William Keller
Ray Krueger
Don Padgett

July 2007
Olin Derrick
Les Fredeen
Lawrence “Butch” Godde
Len Griffin
Len Leydecker
M.J. “Jumbo” Reynolds
Frank Stubbings
Keith Tindall

July 2006
Dean Berg
Walter Detjen
Glenn Losey
Lester Losey
Harold “Red Dog” Mansperger
Ray McCormick
Scott Rawlings

July 2005
Donald R. Jaqua, Sr.

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