Dairy program udderly successful over 24 years
The Tuscarawas County 4-H Junior Fair Dairy Program celebrated a successful 24th year and looked forward to their quarter century mark in 2012 during the annual Buyers’ Appreciation Banquet on Monday, Nov. 14, at Dutch Valley Restaurant in Sugarcreek.
Karen Loveday, committee president, spoke of the 2011 season.
“We have had an amazing year, with record sales. This year we had 70 exhibitors with 109 projects,” she said. Thirty-two young people were recognized as interview judging winners, as were five notebook award recipients.
Loveday thanked the buyers and supporters who were in attendance for their support. Not only did money raised go toward the 4-H exhibitors, but also to help fund an educational trip to Tennessee, a new scholarship program, and fairground improvements.
The 4-H dairy program, however, was not always the vibrant part of the fair that it is today.
Longtime area dairy farmer Bob Clark, who has supported every dairy sale, reminisced about the program’s humble beginnings.
“Twenty-five years ago, the dairy county at the Tuscarawas County Fair, was at a very low stage. Only a few took part in the dairy show, and most of the 4-H children were children of dairy farmers. The fair board actually used part of the dairy barn for beef; that’s how far down our numbers were. The 4-H exhibitors got $5 or $8 for their whole year’s work. I was serving at that time on the Extension advisory board. Some of the 4-H people asked permission to sell one item in the livestock sale for the dairy exhibitors. We were told it would hurt the livestock sale, and we were turned down. At the next Extension meeting, Tom Hisrich asked the Extension board to reconsider,” said Clark, chuckling at the memory. “After some lively debate, I was told, if you want to have a sale, have your own. I quickly took the offer and passed the word to the 4-H committee, but in a few days the Extension board changed their mind, and thought it wasn’t a good idea, and came and asked me not to have the sale. I told them it was too late, and after much discussion, the senior fair board and the 4-H committee was given permission to have the sale, and to sell 35 pieces of cheese, since there were 35 dairy animals exhibited the year before. The first sale brought over $17,000, just for the cheese. Some said it would never happen again, that it was just a fluke. Orlo Brown and I used to bid the price up on each other on the first two pieces of cheese, to make sure we started with a good price! After 24 years, the sale has increased every year, except for maybe one.”
“The dairy program at the fair started to turn around,” continued Clark. “There was only one wash rack at the fair for both dairy and beef at that time. With the help of Orlo, we built the wash rack at the back of the dairy barn. My brother Fred and I built the big planter by the milking parlor to recognize the exhibitors and the buyers, in memory of our dad, Dallas Clark.”
Since then, the whole dairy program has changed.
“The sale has grown to over $80,000 per year, and we now also have the small animal sale, and there are buyers enough for both. Buyers say that they are glad to be part of Tuscarawas County’s 4-H program, and they love to get the handwritten notes from the kids,” Clark stated.
The longtime farmer is glad to have been a part of the project to support and encourage young people.
“It is a great program, and it has helped so many students. This will be part of their lives forever. I never dreamed it would turn out to what it is today. What we’ve done for kids will last.”
Karen Loveday, committee president, spoke of the 2011 season.
“We have had an amazing year, with record sales. This year we had 70 exhibitors with 109 projects,” she said. Thirty-two young people were recognized as interview judging winners, as were five notebook award recipients.
Loveday thanked the buyers and supporters who were in attendance for their support. Not only did money raised go toward the 4-H exhibitors, but also to help fund an educational trip to Tennessee, a new scholarship program, and fairground improvements.
The 4-H dairy program, however, was not always the vibrant part of the fair that it is today.
Longtime area dairy farmer Bob Clark, who has supported every dairy sale, reminisced about the program’s humble beginnings.
“Twenty-five years ago, the dairy county at the Tuscarawas County Fair, was at a very low stage. Only a few took part in the dairy show, and most of the 4-H children were children of dairy farmers. The fair board actually used part of the dairy barn for beef; that’s how far down our numbers were. The 4-H exhibitors got $5 or $8 for their whole year’s work. I was serving at that time on the Extension advisory board. Some of the 4-H people asked permission to sell one item in the livestock sale for the dairy exhibitors. We were told it would hurt the livestock sale, and we were turned down. At the next Extension meeting, Tom Hisrich asked the Extension board to reconsider,” said Clark, chuckling at the memory. “After some lively debate, I was told, if you want to have a sale, have your own. I quickly took the offer and passed the word to the 4-H committee, but in a few days the Extension board changed their mind, and thought it wasn’t a good idea, and came and asked me not to have the sale. I told them it was too late, and after much discussion, the senior fair board and the 4-H committee was given permission to have the sale, and to sell 35 pieces of cheese, since there were 35 dairy animals exhibited the year before. The first sale brought over $17,000, just for the cheese. Some said it would never happen again, that it was just a fluke. Orlo Brown and I used to bid the price up on each other on the first two pieces of cheese, to make sure we started with a good price! After 24 years, the sale has increased every year, except for maybe one.”
“The dairy program at the fair started to turn around,” continued Clark. “There was only one wash rack at the fair for both dairy and beef at that time. With the help of Orlo, we built the wash rack at the back of the dairy barn. My brother Fred and I built the big planter by the milking parlor to recognize the exhibitors and the buyers, in memory of our dad, Dallas Clark.”
Since then, the whole dairy program has changed.
“The sale has grown to over $80,000 per year, and we now also have the small animal sale, and there are buyers enough for both. Buyers say that they are glad to be part of Tuscarawas County’s 4-H program, and they love to get the handwritten notes from the kids,” Clark stated.
The longtime farmer is glad to have been a part of the project to support and encourage young people.
“It is a great program, and it has helped so many students. This will be part of their lives forever. I never dreamed it would turn out to what it is today. What we’ve done for kids will last.”
Published: November 20, 2011
