page 162 2014 LOGAN COUNTY FAIR LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com July 31, 2014
2014 Logan County Fair
When the fair begins, “final prepping is
done.” And, only when it (the competition)
is all over can everyone relax, and then “the
party begins.”
The “party” includes food, for he fondly
remembers that “grandma Jannette would
bring her homemade chicken and noodles
and chocolate sheet cake, up until she was
no longer able.”
He says there is one moment that especially
stands out. He recalls when his Uncle Garry,
who showed hogs and cattle for many years
was dying of cancer. John explains, “One
day I was trimming sheep in the corner of
the sheep barn, and out of nowhere came
my uncle Garry fighting for every step.”
Garry found two hay bales on their sides. So
he lay across them, watching John work and
visiting all Afternoon. Within weeks, Garry
died.
John recalls, “My uncle favored Jimmy,”
for “he and Jim had a bond much like the
bond I felt I had with my dad. “I was not a
cattle person. So we did not relate much, but
that moment made me realize that I wasn’t
forgotten. His final words before he left me
that day were... John, I have the upmost
respect for you being able to do this. You
are very good at it. Don’t let anyone tell you
different. Keep up the good work.”
John also has many other memorable
experiences from 4-H. For instance, he
says, “In the 80s I remember having to dig
trenches down the aisles of the sheep pens
to get the water out of the barn on show
day.”
He also recalls, “When the old 4-H cattle
barns were up, it was nothing to find my
brother swinging from the rafters on his
cot.”
John also pulled some pranks, remembering
that “Back then there were huge cattle tanks.
So it was nothing to throw people in them…
or [to tie] someone to a foldable bed, throw
them in a pickup truck with stock racks and
parade them around the barn with tons of
kids hanging on the side.”
For the most part, John says, “It was all
good clean fun. We did not need alcohol to
have fun. We just needed good friends and
family.”
Now, years later, the whole family packs up
the camper and camps all week near several
other families. He says, “We have good
company, good food and good laughs.”
The experience is rewarding, for he says, “The
kids learn responsibility and I see it carry out
in to their adult years. My kids work as a team.
The two older ones still show up at the fair to
help even though they do not have to…the most
rewarding part from the fairs is more than the
prizes and money. It is the bond you build with
your family and the friends you gain.”
These experiences are what brings the families
back year after year.
