Carl Divers was recognized for his volunteer work with a Friend of the Fair award Monday.

FRANKLIN TWP — There wasn't a dry eye in the horse show ring Monday when 83-year-old Carl Divers was recognized for his decades of service to the Big Butler Fair.

Divers received one of about 70 Friend of the Fair awards being handed out across the state this summer by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Tracy Barone, fair fund administrator for the department, explained how boards of directors from the state's 108 agricultural events are invited each year to submit the name of a special volunteer for potential recognition.

The Big Butler Fair board immediately thought of Divers, who served for 40 years with the fair's Light Horse Department.

“It's pretty easy to recognize Carl,” said Harold Dunn, a fair director. “Anytime the horse committee or one of our directors needed to get something done, we always knew we could count on him.”

Divers retired from his volunteer position at the fair this year.

In addition to his wife and two daughters, about 40 of Divers' family members, friends, fair board members and co-workers from Diehl Automotive — where Divers continues to work as the director of transportation — tiptoed through the horse show ring to watch him receive his award.

Divers was visibly moved when he attempted to thank those who came to cheer him for his award.

“I enjoyed the time I worked for the fair,” he said as he stood front and center in the dirt show ring. “It was a great go and it's now time to move on. I'm getting too old to keep up with the kids.”

Both Barone and Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche, and many of those who came to congratulate Divers, wiped away tears as the humble octogenarian spoke.

Osche, who has been Divers' neighbor for 27 years, and Commissioner Kevin Boozel made a proclamation in Divers' honor as well.

In addition to Divers' 40 years with the fair, the proclamation mentioned his 35 years of employment at the Butler VA Health Care System as an X-ray technician, 23 years in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, charter membership in the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival committee, lifelong membership at North Street Christian Church, his annual decision to spend a week of paid vacation helping out at the fair, and all-around helpful attitude.

“We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and encourage our community to look at Carl as a role model of good citizenship in Butler County,” Osche read from the proclamation.

Divers said the award and proclamation are very meaningful.

“Mainly because I never felt like I did anything outstanding or anything,” Diver said. “I just came out and did what I was supposed to do and loved every minute of it.”