GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Agriculture Fair isn’t what Tasha Hyder does. It’s who she is.

The merry-go-round, agriculture barns and giant pretzels are reasons why more than 130,000 will attend this year’s 11-day event at the Clay County Fairgrounds. But for Hyder, the impact lasts all year.

Residents in Clay County know a lot about the Fair’s Executive Director. In addition to the Fair, she worked to rescue animals and provide much-needed relief to hurricane victims in Southwest Florida.

Now her work is being recognized throughout Northeast Florida after her nomination as a “Top 40 Under 40” professional by the Jacksonville Business Journal.

Part of the process included a lengthy questionnaire, including the question: “What’s the best advice you’ve received in your professional career?”

“I told them you get out of your community what you put back into it,” she said. “And that is why I’m so big about giving back to our community. Because it is, you know, the Clay County Fair. Our people love our fair, and they give back to our community. They support us when we need them.”

They also wanted to know about her beliefs and theories.

Soon after Hurricane Ian ravaged the Fort Myers area, Hyder and Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook organized a massive relief effort at the fairgrounds to collect supplies. Their original goal was to fill two tractor-trailers with water, food and cleaning supplies.

The plan was to collect donations from residents for five days. The response was so incredible, Hyder and volunteers worked into the following week collecting, sorting and loading supplies on pallets.

Hyder and Cook soon were joined by the Mercer County (Ohio) Fair, which sent another trailer stuffed with much-needed supplies to Clay County. In all, more than six loads, including trailers of hay for displaced animals, were sent to Southwest Florida.

“We use the word overwhelming. And heartwarming,” Hyder said. “We knew our community and our fair board were awesome, but they went above and beyond for us. They really knocked it out. They understood the assignment and they got an A-plus-plus.”

Hyder said the best celebration for her honor would come between March 30 and April 9 with happy families enjoying what she believes will be the best Fair yet.