“Thelma and Louise,” a famous 1991 film, is best remembered for its ending—Thelma and Louise driving off a cliff.
If you attended the 2025 Wayne County Fair, you may have encountered the alive and adventurous Thelma and Louise, otherwise known as Debbie Hall and Beth Pershing.
Debbie Hall of Carroll and Beth Pershing of Colorado Springs, Colorado have known each other for over 30 years. Beth is the mother of Jimmie Fernau and Debbie is the mother of Mandi Fernau.
This resurrection of Thelma and Louise occurred approximately five to six years ago. The ladies started driving a golf cart for the Wayne County Fair. They greet attendees of the fair and transport them to any location they are wanting to go to on the fairgrounds.
The traveling ladies said at sometime in the last few years someone called them Thelma and Louise. This year the ladies stepped their game up with visors with their movie star names purchased by Debbie. Beth added fringe and red, white and blue lights to bring out the wildness of their adventures.
Beth said she had seen a golf cart decorated at a high school graduation this year, so she thought they should decorate their cart.
Debbie said, ”We have a great time meeting the nicest and friendliest people during the fair. We have a ball.”
Every year they partner up and drive the golf cart, talking with everyone they meet. Beth said Debbie knows everyone and if she doesn’t, they do after driving them around. Beth also said everyone they meet thinks its cool that her son is married to Debbie’s daughter.
Everyone who has taken a ride with Thelma and Louise ask about the back story of their names. If the passengers haven’t heard of the movie, they usually have googled it before their ride is over.
Mandi Fernau enjoys having her mother and mother-in-law at the fair and there is never a dull moment. She said they love driving the shuttle, picking up people that need a ride. Mandi said,” When you are riding with the ladies there is never a quiet minute, they will talk your leg off.”
“Don’t drive off a cliff” has been mentioned to the ladies often.
The ladies are already planning to up their game next year at the fair. They are thinking of offering pictures and autographs.
Even though Wayne County Fair’s Thelma and Louise are happily married, don’t carry a gun, have never murdered anyone and are still alive, they know how to have a great time at the fair.
Next year as the saga continues, take a chance and take a “wild” ride on the shuttle with Thelma and Louise.
