Poultry barn named for Lib Chastain
It wasn’t Elizabeth Chastain’s style to do things halfway. So you had to figure her volunteer work at the Warren County A&L Fair would be no different.
“I’ve been the poultry superintendent the last four or five years, but Lib was the boss,” said Joel Powers. “She did so much of the paperwork, stuff I never had to worry about. And she never missed a year.”
Chastain’s tireless dedication was remembered Saturday morning when fair officials announced they are naming the poultry barn in her honor. The building will now officially be called Chastain Chicken House.
Chastain began her work at the poultry barn in 1964 and volunteered for 38 consecutive years before she passed away in February. She could always be seen at her familiar table at the barn’s main entrance, wearing a friendly smile while never failing to maintain order.
“When she was into something, she was into it completely,” said poultry barn volunteer Ronald Elrod. “She certainly did a lot. There were nights we worked for 24 hours straight.”
Unlike other livestock exhibits where animals stay for only a few hours, or maybe for one night, the poultry barn is different. The chickens are registered on Monday and stay at the barn all week.
On hand for Saturday’s informal announcement were members of Chastain’s family: her brother, Ed Chastain, and her great, great nephew Peyton Norris.
Ed is familiar with farm animals himself – only animals much bigger than chickens. He milked cows for 52 years and also carried the mail.
Ed said he is proud of all the contributions Lib made to the fair. He also said she was pretty smart when it came to politics too.
“I’m a proud yellow-dog Democrat, just like she was,” said Ed.