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!

Fill out my online form.

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