Holmes fair board, 4-H celebrate volunteer awards
The 2024 Holmes County 4-H Alumni Award winner was Sara Sponseller-Uhl.
Every year Holmes County 4-H and the Holmes County Fair grow and succeed in many ways, and it is because of the many people who give of themselves.
“Each year we have many worthy candidates for this honor, and it’s difficult to narrow it down, and that was the case again this year,” senior fair board member Kathy Schlabach said. “In our 4-H family, we see many people step up and offer their time, talent, financial support and encouragement to get us over the next hurdle and get us soaring toward our next goals.”
Those individuals were honored during the annual Holmes County 4-H Volunteer Recognition Banquet.
The 2024 Friend of Holmes County 4-H was Lisa Grassbaugh.
Lisa Lang presented the 2024 Friend of Holmes County 4-H, noting it is reserved for an individual or business who exemplifies support and generosity through the giving of their time, treasures and talents.
“She has exhibited those characteristics in all three areas,” Lang said of Grassbaugh.
Lang said Grassbaugh spent 10 years in the 4-H program and has been integral in the dairy committee, particularly by purchasing and donating items to the cause.
“She even hosted a dairy clinic on her family’s farm,” Lang said. “She made sure the dairy kids are well fed at clinics after their show. She is very dependable, loyal, hardworking and very observant.”
The 2024 Partner of Holmes County 4-H went to Harold’s Equipment owner Harold Neuenschwander.
Presenter Marcia Troyer praised Neuenschwander for his constant support to the fair and to 4-H, speaking about the many ways he has impacted the county’s youth.
“Harold and Harold’s Equipment has impacted our youth so much, as they have earned valuable knowledge and life skills,” Troyer said. “He has helped them understand what it takes to get that glass of milk or hamburger on to the table. It doesn’t always come from the grocery store.”
She said Harold’s Equipment has been a corporate sponsor of the Holmes County Fair for many years, as well as contributing in many other ways to the junior fair and Holmes County Fair carcass awards through award sponsorships.
She said his contributions to the new fairgrounds also were valuable and showed his major support of Holmes County 4-H and the fair.
“Working with one of his suppliers, Harold has been able to orchestrate a joint donation of the rubber roll to cover the new walkways so the animals won’t have to walk on the slippery concrete,” Troyer said.
Neuenschwander also has been a lifetime supporter of the fair by making many purchases during the annual fair livestock sale.
Troyer said it isn’t uncommon for Neuenschwander to take time to visit with any 4-H-er about projects and what they are learning, and he’s spent years on the fair board.
The 2024 Holmes County 4-H Alumni Award winner was Sara Sponseller-Uhl.
“I am thrilled tonight to be able to present the 4-H Alumni Award to a very deserving person,” presenter Erika Schuck said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working closely with this individual on the 4-H Advisory Committee over the past six years. I don’t think a meeting has ever wrapped up without me laughing at something funny she has said.”
She said Sponseller-Uhl has shared her many gifts and talents with the Holmes County 4-H program over the years, noting that as a youth, she enjoyed showing her market steers, competing in versatility shows with her horses and participating in Little International.
Sponseller-Uhl dabbled in the dairy industry by milking cows as a teen, and as an adult, she has turned her attention to smaller livestock because her son got her hooked on two-legged fowl.
Sponseller-Uhl has been a member of the Holmes County Quality Assurance Committee. She has played a role in the development of the Quality Assurance program, and according to Schuck, she manages to perform a variety of different activities effortlessly.
“She wears her teacher hat, uses her teacher voice, and brings valuable knowledge and experience to our QA program,” Schuck said. “Each year she creatively wraps up the GPP content material into an interactive station that the 4-H members really enjoy.
“In addition, this year she was instrumental in the success of the Outstanding Market and Breeding Livestock Awards by helping to implement the video portion of the scoring rubric, and she spent hours watching every single video submission that was turned in. She’s also a rockstar livestock book judge and a member of the poultry committee.”
Sponseller-Uhl is a senior fair board director and part of the Holmes County Roots organization. She served in the past as secretary of the 4-H Advisory Committee.
“She’s the whole package. She is a 4-H daughter, mom, aunt, advocate, teacher, photographer, supporter, volunteer and friend,” Schuck said. “It is my pleasure to present the 2024 4-H Alumni Award to Sara Sponseller-Uhl.”
The 2024 Friend of the Holmes County Fair went to Jim Miller of Mill Street Photography, who has become a staple of providing the fair board and many others within the community with some entertaining photographs.
Schlabach presented Miller with the honor, saying it was well earned because no fair goes by without pretty much everyone attending the fair seeing Miller wandering around, snapping pictures that are eventually put to good use in promoting the fair and the community.
“Jim’s contributions in capturing the beauty of Harvest Ridge and our fair stand out year after year,” Schlabach said. “He offers his time and talents even before asked. Jim continually captures our wonderful fairgrounds and events.”
Schlabach said those contributions have helped others see the inspiring activity surrounding each year’s fair.
“Many times we find ourselves wanting to share our history in photos,” Schlabach said. “Without Jim we would have missed many memorable moments including amazing sunsets over the grounds, the buildings highlighted by bright and shining lights, and a lasting record of each day’s accomplishments. It creates a visual record that will be enjoyed for generations to come.”
This year’s recipients add to an ever-growing list of community members who have dedicated themselves to serving the county, the fair and 4-H by sharing their gifts and talents.