Congratulations to our 2023 Festival Royalty,
Jim and Nancy Smith of Macksburg, Iowa
The Madison County Covered Bridge Festival Committee is excited to announce that Jim and Nancy Smith will reign as this year’s festival royalty.
Jim was born in Macksburg and has lived there all his life. Nancy is from Iowa City but moved to Macksburg in 1956. Her parents and grandparents hailed from Macksburg and they moved to be closer to them.
Jim and Nancy met at Macksburg Consolidated Schools in 1956 and it was love at first sight. Their mothers played basketball together giving them more time to spend together. In 1959, Jim and Nancy married and moved soon after to Winterset before moving again to Kansas City so Jim could attend college for electrical engineering.
After completed his degree, the Smiths moved to Naperville, Illinois and settled until they moved back to Macksburg in 1996. They settled on 160 acres and built their house themselves.
Jim has been actively involved on the County Conservation Board, Farm Bureau Board, Southern Iowa Rural Water Association Board for 18 years and with Nancy, is a member of the Macksburg Methodist Church where he was the treasurer for 10 years.
Nancy has made 22 memory quilts for veterans through the church. She belongs to the Women of Faith and Women’s Relief Corps. Together they have also maintained the local cemeteries for seven years.
They are honored and surprised to be nominated for this year’s Covered Bridge Festival Royalty.
Nominations for 2023 are now closed, but feel free to nominate a king and queen for consideration in future years!
Nominations are now open for 2024 Madison County Covered Bridge Festival King & Queen!
Past Festival Kings & Queens:
2022 — Dusky and Connie Terry, Earlham
2021 — Ruth Reed and Nancy Triplett, Winterset
2020 — No festival was held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019 — Rich Mills & Mayumi Ameku
2018 — Otto & Maxine Bussanmus
2017 — Larry & Yvonne Ory, Earlham
2016 — Bill Paull & Glenna Finney, Winterset
2015 — Larry & Doris Downs, St. Charles
2014 — Bob & Phyllis Kaldenberg, Winterset
2013 — Jim & Pat Nelson, Winterset
2012 — Carolyn Farr & Don Pettit, Winterset
2011 — Charles & Berta Kordick, Winterset
2010 — Hal & Harriett Jackson, Winterset
2009 — Willard & Eva Short, Winterset
2008 — Charles & Margaret Blair
2007 — Eddie & Daisy Dell Benge, Winterset
2006 — Dwayne & Edna Honnold, Winterset
2005 — Russell & Shirley Leeper, Earlham
2004 — Marion & Bernita Patience
2003 — George & Ethel Berry
2002 — Gary & Shirley Allen, Winterset
2001 — Jack & Florence Thomas
2000 — Mel & Bev Penrod, Winterset
1999 — Marlin & Gretchen Brittain
1998 — Ival & Edith Mease
1997 — Estel & Juanita Welch
1996 — George & Pat Montross
1995 — Gene & Evelyn Trask, Winterset
1994 — Robert & Esther Pilmer, Winterset
1993 — Jim & Wessie Breeding, Winterset
1992 — Lee & Polly Huffman, Winterset
1991 — Ruth Tucker & Lewis Morris, Winterset
1990 — John & Ruth Gorman, Winterset
1989 — R.D. & Maxine Wilson, St. Charles
1988 — Lee & Esther Wheeler, Lorimor
1987 — Carroll & Irene Beverlin, Peru
1986 — Lloyd & Beth Sankey, Winterset
1985 — Bill & Velda Morse, Winterset
1984 — Maurice & Alice Lynch, Cumming
1983 — Les & Beulah Goeldner, Earlham
1982 — Sid & Inez Hartman, Winterset
1981 — Guy & Fern Fogler, Patterson
1980 — Ralph Minard & Mae Lane, Truro
1979 — Frank & Loreah Wilson, Earlham
1978 — Charles & Lois Clark, Winterset
1977 — “Dugan” Eivins & Bertha McKinzie, Macksburg
1976 — Mr. & Mrs. Carl Downs (Wilma), St. Charles
1975 — Mr. & Mrs. Roy Anker, Earlham
1974 — Grace Breeding & Francis Carlson, St. Charles & Truro
1973 — Inez Townsend & Frank Comp, Winterset
1972 — Mr. & Mrs. C.A. (Lon) Clark, Winterset
1971 — Mr. & Mrs Wayne Crow, Winterset
1970 — None