Meet the new AFAD Chairwoman

She might be young, but don't let the new AFAD Chairwoman's age fool you, Betsy Lynn is more then capable of filling the role and making it her own.

Born in Panama City, FL, Lynn might not be an Elmore County native, but she grew up a military dependant and feels the importance of Air Force Appreciation Day on a deep level. She came to Mountain Home when her father was transferred to Mountain Home Air Force base in 2001. Several years later, when it was time for him to retire, the family decided to make Mountain Home their permanent residence where they could put down roots.

Lynn is a member of the graduating class of Mountain Home High School 2011. After graduating she moved to Boise where she majored in communications at Boise State University where she graduated with a B.A. with an emphasis in media relations.

She had met her future husband, Evan Hiddleston, during her senior year of high school and decided to move back to Mountain Home during her junior year of college. She came home with the goal of helping to make her family's adopted hometown a better place to live.

Lynn quickly jumped into that role, first by going to work at the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce, where she helped organize all of the annual events such as Crazee Dayz, the Fall Harvest, and of course, AFAD.

Lynn is also the secretary for the Daniel Dopps Memorial Rodeo Committee and part of the Crazee Dayz Committee as well.

Earlier this year Lynn made the move to a county employee, by going to work as the University of Idaho Extension Office Program Assistant. She still has loyalties to the Chamber and the community though and it wasn't long before she stopped by the Chamber to ask if there was anything she could do to help. While there she was informed that a new chairperson was needed after the previous one stepped down. After having a conversation with Randy Valley, longtime chairman of the event, her name went to a vote before the Board of Directors for the Chamber and she was chosen to fill the position.

Having grown up here and being a member of the Chamber there weren't many surprises for Lynn as she began to fill the role. However, the amount of time and effort put in by the volunteers, along with the sheer number of volunteers needed for the event did surprise her a bit.

"I would like to thank all the of the volunteers and the community for the local support," Lynn said.

Lynn's goal is to continue to grow Mountain Home's "greatest tradition" with an event that gets better each year. She doesn't want to change up the traditions of AFAD, but does want to leave her mark on it for the generations to come.

Though she is busy preparing for the 59th celebration, next year's 60th Air Force Appreciation Day will give her the opportunity to do just that and she plans to begin brainstorming as soon as this year's big day is completed.

Lynn is passionate about the event and is sure not to disappoint as she leads the event in the years to come.

"Even though school had already started, AFAD was always the official end of summer to me," Lynn said, referring to her childhood memories of AFAD.