Mena City Council member and Advertising & Promotion Commission member Terri Neugent was recognized by the Arkansas Festival & Events Association on January 26 as the winner of the Association’s 2016 “Volunteer of the Year” ALFiE Award. The award was presented to Neugent at the Association’s Annual Conference & Trade Show in Little Rock for her “significant enthusiasm and specific expertise while showing initiative and providing leadership, dependability, and a positive attitude” in her efforts with Mena’s signature annual event, the Lum & Abner Festival.

Since 2014, Neugent has served as the Chair of the Mena A&P Commission’s Festivals & Events Committee. In that role, she has led efforts for not only the Lum & Abner Festival but also the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration, the Queen Wilhelmina Rod Run Saturday Night Street Dance & Concert, and the Mena Christmas Festival, all of which are important special events for the community and Mena’s tourism industry.
The ALFiE Awards recognize outstanding examples of quality, creativity, and achievement in the festivals and events industry. This is the second ALFiE award won by the Lum & Abner Festival. The first was in 2007 when the Festival was awarded “Best New Festival.”
Neugent said the award was a surprise. She knew she was a finalist but had no idea should would win. “I was very honored to be presented the award. I love this great city of Mena and the Mena A&P’s Lum and Abner Festival. It requires a lot of hard work and a lot of time over many months of planning and organizing, but it is worth every minute because they produce an excellent festival with wonderful vendors, events, and entertainment that many from all over enjoy every year. I was honored and it was very unexpected.”
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Jeri Pearson
Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.
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