CCF&EC welcomes two new employees

Clay County Fair and Events Center welcomes Phil Poutre, as the new executive chef and Talor Batschelet as the new receptionist for the Fair & Events Center. 

Phil Poutre, executive chef, brings more than 16 years of food industry experience to his position. Poutre grew up in northern Iowa and studied culinary arts and business at the Le Cordon Bleu Institute at Brown College in the Twin Cities. He spent a large portion of his career working for private country clubs in the Naples, Florida area. 

“I really enjoy working in Spencer, and I am proud to be part of such a great team of people,” said Poutre. “I am excited to bring new offerings to the menu in the near future.”

Poutre and his family relocated back to the Midwest. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking, the beach and riding off-road vehicles.

When you stop at the Fair & Events Center Administative Offices, Talor Batschelet will be the first to greet you as the new receptionist.  Batschelet considers herself a “returnee” to the Fair & Events Center; she originally joined the team in the spring of 2016 as summer office help and was in charge of open class competitive exhibits entry during the 2016 Fair. 

Batschelet, who grew up in Everly, was recently married to her husband Caleb, who works for Clay County as an equipment operator, and farms with his family. The couple lives in Spencer with their cat, Teddy.

“I feel like I have always been a part of the Fair because my grandpa, Jack Schoelerman, used to be on the Clay County Fair Board,” said Batschelet. “I loved that he got golf cart privileges, and I always felt so important when I got to ride around the fairgrounds with him.”