By ROD ROWE
THE GOSHEN NEWS
GOSHEN —
“A year ago at this time, I was looking at a freshly plowed field,” said Ted Sautter, Elkhart, who has served as 2010 president of the Elkhart County 4-H Fair, Wednesday at the annual fair board banquet.
Continuing in his agricultural analogy, Sautter said the field was sown and “we had a great harvest. We had a great fair.”
Sautter commented on some new features that were featured at this year’s fair, thanking volunteers who were responsible, before handing the gavel to Rene Troyer-Campbell, Goshen, who will serve at 2011 president.
Sautter thanked Bristol Marshal Mike Swallow, who replaced Sautter in leadership of the Bristol Posse this year, thanked member Doug Thorne for heading up Disabilities Awareness Day at the fair, Terry Shewmaker and Barney Beer for restoring the horse-drawn trams inside the grounds and the Gene Williams family for heading up agriculture education day at the fair.
He noted that Troyer-Campbell and others worked on rebuilding the first phase of Rotary Boulevard and the harness racing group removed the plastic hub rail from the track.
Sautter recognized Margaret Weybright for her 32 years of fair board membership, representing the 4-H Corporation Board, giving her a lifetime fair pass.
Balloonmaster Gene Stutsman delivered an award to Jim Miller, of the North Central Cooperative, who has helped deliver fuel to balloonists all 22 years of the balloon chase.
“It’s been a great year. I will never forget it,” Sautter concluded.
Troyer-Campbell pointed out that she and her family moved to Lola Yoder’s farm 40 years ago, saying Yoder was the first female president of the fair board in 1971. Troyer-Campbell said she is honored to follow her in this leadership role.
“Lola planted the seed for our 4-H experience,” she said.
She thanked the board members and 4-H leaders for their many years of service.
“I’m glad there are volunteers to help kids,” she said. “4-H and the fair are intertwined. Together they are sustaining our future.”
She introduced the 2011 fair theme, which is “4-H: Planting the Seeds for Future Generations.”
“I’m looking forward to working with you in the coming year,” she said.
