The Helena man was a consulting engineer when the new facility was built at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds in 2007-2008. In 2018, the Lewis & Clark County Commissioners appointed Porrini to the Lewis and Clark County Fair Board and he remained on the board for eight years, the majority of which he served as chairman. “I’m 50-plus years in the community,” he said, “having moved here from back East, I never left Helena. The Spirit of the West Award is given to volunteers who exemplify the spirit of helping and giving back, with no expectation of recognition. Phil Porrini (center) accepts the Spirit of the West Award from Mike Gurnett (left) and Kevin Tenney, Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds manager.