Hi there folks,
I hope the heat of summer hasn’t been too much for you all. If it’s hot outside that can only mean one thing: it’s fair season.
I bet a bunch of you have been running around to your local county fairs and seeing lots of people that, well, you only see at the county fairs. Funnel cakes, fair fries, and livestock shows, it doesn’t get much better than that.
Since it is that time of year, I thought I would share with you an experience I had at the Harrison county fair. I know it’s not FSA, but sometimes it’s good to take that hat off and just share some of the wonderful stories that we get to see, that maybe you wouldn’t otherwise hear about.
The market sale at any fair is a big deal. We get to see all that hard work, grooming, feeding, and sweat come to fruition. The sale is really where the hard working 4-H’er gets to see the fruits of their labor.
This is also where the people and businesses of the community come out and show their support of these children and their agricultural endeavors. I am always amazed at the amount of support and generosity a small rural community can garner.
It is really heartwarming to me in so many ways. There are always moments that stand out, that might be small, and go unnoticed.
The one I am going to tell you about really hit all the emotions, there may have even been tears, not that I would ever admit to that.
Last year at Harrison Central Elementary, the fourth-grade class experienced the loss of a classmate to cancer. The children really rallied around their buddy, Drew Palmer. He fought the brave fight as only a tough little boy could have, and his classmates stuck with him through it all.
One of his classmates showed a market lamb this year at the fair, and on sale day, announced that he would be donating all the proceeds from the market lamb to childhood cancer research, in honor of his friend, Drew.
What a thoughtful gesture from a 10-year-old. The kindness doesn’t end here.
The lamb was sold for $2,000, then donated back and re-ran through, for an additional $1,400. $3,400 raised in mere minutes for childhood cancer research. It was an amazing and beautifully fitting moment.
To me this moment perfectly describes what the local county fair is all about. Farmers, local businesses, and 4-H children do great things. I will argue with anyone that doesn’t think 4-H children are the greatest things going.
They work hard and do tremendous things for their respective communities. They are the next generation of agriculture and from what I see, they are going to do amazing things.
So go out if you can and support your local 4-H market sale. It will be well worth your time and money.
Until next time friends,
FSA Andy
