4-H Education Community Food Garden Youth Environment Family Agriculture

Take Time to Appreciate the Work of Volunteers at the Fair

  • John E. Woodmansee
  • Photo by John Woodmansee
  • July 10, 2026

Above: Sean Nolan, from Sanctuary Native Nursery, delivers a seminar on using native plants in the landscape to fairgoers in 2025, one of three such seminars sponsored by Whitley County Master Gardeners.

The Whitley County 4-H Fair will take place July 17-23, 2026. Besides the entertainment, ice cream, and 4-H shows, let’s all take time to appreciate the work of all the volunteers at the fair.

First, we appreciate the hard work that 4-H members, volunteers, and parents put into making the fair experience possible. Volunteer boards are essential to the 4-H program: 4-H Clubs, Inc., 4-H Council, 4-H Leaders, livestock advisory boards, and project leaders all contribute their valuable time for the benefit of our youth. 4-H Junior Leaders take their involvement a step further by operating their refreshment stand at the fair, engaging in community service, and building leadership skills through year-round activities. In the end, youth develop life skills that will benefit them far beyond the 4-H experience.

Additionally, I would encourage you to take time to appreciate the volunteer work that our Whitley County Master Gardeners have done to beautify the fairgrounds and to supplement your gardening knowledge.

For many years, Whitley County Master Gardener volunteers have worked to create beautiful and educational gardens around the fairgrounds. Their local club association has invested its own hard-earned funds to supplement this effort by buying and growing plants in the gardens. Throughout the growing season, Master Gardeners install and care for plants, maintain irrigation systems, pull weeds, and use mulch to reduce weeds. It is a labor of love on their part, and a point of pride for the community. To supplement learning, some of the plants in the gardens are labeled.

During the fair, Master Gardeners sponsor seminars on Monday afternoon starting at 1:00 p.m. in the Ag Museum. This year’s lineup, along the theme of “Fall Vegetable Gardening,” includes:

  • 1:00 p.m. – Preparing Fall Soil, by John Woodmansee, Extension Educator in Whitley County
  • 1:40 p.m. – Planting Fall Vegetable Gardens, by Jan Barkley, Whitley County Master Gardener
  • 2:20 p.m. – Discussion Panel with Master Gardeners, featuring John Woodmansee, Jan Barkley, Sue Farris, Mary Ann Anderson, and Terry Ward
  • 3:30 p.m. – A Few Favorite Garden Dishes, by Darice Sheiss, Whitley County Master Gardener

Master Gardeners will also have an information table in the Ag Museum staffed from noon – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, where you can bring your gardening questions and learn about how you could become a Whitley County Master Gardener.

Our Extension Homemakers work hard to provide nutritious food well beyond the typical “fair food” you may get at other fairs. These women work long, hard hours to serve our community. Many local organizations jump in to help their efforts by serving on the food line.

Lastly, other volunteers assist with various jobs at the fair, such as volunteering a shift in a concessions area or helping with a special activity. Maybe there is a place where you can plug in.

Hundreds of volunteers collectively invest thousands of hours, bringing great value and benefit to Whitley County. Please join me in offering a big “THANK YOU” to these volunteers as we approach and experience the 2026 Whitley County 4-H Fair!