State Events Chair ~ Merry Gerrett

July - August 2026

I’m tired I’m happy I have sore feet and I had an absolute blast at the field meet. And I even got the watermelon award. But I really think I will

Share it with Vern Shock Jr. and Region 10.  oh no wait what happens at the field meet stays at the field meet!!!  So you had to be there. You missed some fun stuff

Can you say WOW!!!

1st the committee, thank you all for your work and dedication. 

2nd. to the Board for all you do to Make our members number one.

3rd to our Sargent at Arms Dann Patterson aka Tiny for your late, late nights and closing up, so I could sleep. 

4th. Mark for providing the golf carts so I didn’t have to walk everywhere because I’m older than dirt.

5th to Vern and Amy Lauren Penny for donating a big fat juicy pig for our enjoyment. 

6th to JJ aka MB and his crew for staying up all night to roast the pig.

7th to Clare County Fairgrounds for the use of grounds and barn. 

8th to Let’s Bounce dunk tank. I laughed and laughed. And I never imaged so many would enjoy that cold water. 

9th. To all the brave souls that climbed in the tank and just had a ball and we even saw a few balls along the way. The folks that spent their hard earned money to throw those balls and helped make this an awesome extra to our weekend.  Special thank you to Gary Kopta aka President and Butch Brown aka VP (we all saw a little more of you then we expected) for making us some extra money and your smack talk. 

10th to our great young lady food vendor Christina that kept us fed with some great food and beverages. Hope you tried a dirty coke or orange. The burritos were yummy.

11th. To all our vendors I hope you had as much fun as we did. Thank you so much!!!

12th to our band, Strings Attached, all

I can say is thank you for rocking the barn.  Everyone enjoyed your music and your fun. 

13th Region 14 for the games

14th Region 6 and my brother Tom Wright for the bike show.

15th for Tiny with the Top Challenge even though everyone was to busy laughing at the dunk tank. Will make some changes to itinerary times next year.

16th to my front desk workers which is the hardest job at the field meet thank you. 

17th to our DJ. Thanks for

Playing some Teddy Swims and lots of other favorites.

18th to my sister in law Dreama Wright for keeping me and the hubby fed and for traveling 10 hours from Kentucky to help me. Love you guys! 

19th to all that donated thank you, thank you, thank you.

I’m sure I’m forgetting people but I’m

Still tired. lol

And to the best group of people who have ever given a shit. 

OUR MEMBERS !!!!!! ABATE of Michigan committee staff and the Board say a huge THANK YOU!!!