(La Porte County, IN) - The passing of country music superstar Toby Keith is being felt by fans everywhere and locally.

 

Keith, who succumbed to stomach cancer, previously played during the La Porte County Fair in 2021.

 

Fair Board member Mark Parkman, who’s from the Westville area, said he worked the souvenir stand during the sold-out concert.  He said Toby Keith shirts, hats, and other items such as Solo cups, because of his hit song “Red Solo Cup,” sold like hotcakes.

 

“There were people coming in and out the whole night. There was a lot of merchandise. A lot of fans for Toby Keith in our area that’s for sure,” he said.

 

Parkman also said he could feel the energy from the crowd.

 

“Out of all the concerts we had, I believe that one probably did as well as any when it came to the amount of merchandise it sold,” he said.

 

Fair Board President Steve Mrozinski said he and a few other board members met and engaged in small talk with Keith backstage prior to his performance.

 

"He was very polite to everyone. Whatever he asked for we did. He just seemed like a very down-to-earth guy," he said. 

 

Per Mrozinski, he put on one of the best concerts ever at the fair.

 

Keith, known for songs covering topics such as cowboys, drinking beer, and patriotism, had 20 number-one hits during his chart-topping career