Chamber of Commerce wins silver at state fair

The Merced County Chamber of Commerce said it won the Silver Award and "Best Animation" award for its Merced County exhibit at the annual California State Fair.

It marked the first time the chamber has won the animation award after decades of participation in the fair.

The exhibit's theme, "Business, Prosperity & a Little Rock 'n' Roll," emphasized the county's "dedication to making Merced County a wonderful place to visit and enjoy, as well as a place of business and family prosperity," the chamber said in a news release.

Nelson Crabb, an Atwater city councilman and president of the county chamber, said the exhibit's "animation and songs add elements of fun to the exhibit which we all know is truly important during these economic times."

Attending the awards celebration with Crabb were his wife Cindy, Atwater Mayor Joan Faul, Mayor Pro Tem Lesa Rasmussen and her son Johnny, Atwater City Attorney Adam Lindgren and County Chamber CEO Julius Pekar.

The California State Fair is ongoing and runs through Sept. 1 in Sacramento.