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 The fair has a number of longstanding 4-H families who volunteer
in various capacities with the fair and Logan County 4-H while their
children are active and even after they are grown.
The John and Annie Coers family of New Holland are a prime example.
Showing sheep at the fair has been a tradition for the Coers’
family. John says, “My dad David showed Hampshire sheep for the nine
years he was in 4-H, and I have showed Montadale sheep at the Logan
county fair for 36 years.”
John also notes, “I was assistant sheep superintendent for two years
and then became superintendent for the 4-H sheep.”
Coers has held the position of both superintendent and open sheep
assistant superintendent for 10 years.
It is definitely a family affair for the Coers. John says, “My kids
have been showing Montadales for the last 10 years and now have
added the Tunis and Corriedale breed. My brother Jim has been
involved also by showing the Cheviot breed. My wife Annie has been
right there involved with me.”
On show day, even more family gets involved. John says, “My mom
Roseann and my dad David, my brother Jimmy and his wife Erin, along
with their kids Adam and Taylor, my kids Chelsea, Austin, Alex, Alec
and Jayce.” At times his brother Jared, wife Melissa, and their kids
Caleigh, Keeghan, Meghann, and Madyson travel all the way from
Connecticut to participate.
Extended family even gets involved, as cousin Nick Davis has been
bitten by the sheep showing bug. John said, “It gives you a lump in
your throat to see it all come together and to see your wife by your
side and your whole immediate family working together.”
John says that much of the preparation is done prior before the fair
as “sheep are washed two or three times and each one is trimmed for
two hours.”
When the fair begins, “final prepping is done.” And, only when it
(the competition) is all over can everyone relax, and then “the
party begins.”
The “party” includes food, for he fondly remembers that “grandma
Jannette would bring her homemade chicken and noodles and chocolate
sheet cake, up until she was no longer able.”
He says there is one moment that especially stands out. He recalls
when his Uncle Garry, who showed hogs and cattle for many years was
dying of cancer. John explains, “One day I was trimming sheep in the
corner of the sheep barn, and out of nowhere came my uncle Garry
fighting for every step.” Garry found two hay bales on their sides.
So he lay across them, watching John work and visiting all
Afternoon. Within weeks, Garry died.
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John recalls, “My uncle favored Jimmy,” for “he and Jim had a
bond much like the bond I felt I had with my dad. “I was not a
cattle person. So we did not relate much, but that moment made
me realize that I wasn't forgotten. His final words before he
left me that day were... John, I have the upmost respect for you
being able to do this. You are very good at it. Don’t let anyone
tell you different. Keep up the good work.”
John also has many other memorable experiences from 4-H. For
instance, he says, “In the 80s I remember having to dig trenches
down the aisles of the sheep pens to get the water out of the
barn on show day.”
He also recalls, “When the old 4-H cattle barns were up, it was
nothing to find my brother swinging from the rafters on his
cot.”
John also pulled some pranks, remembering that “Back then there
were huge cattle tanks. So it was nothing to throw people in
them…or [to tie] someone to a foldable bed, throw them in a
pickup truck with stock racks and parade them around the barn
with tons of kids hanging on the side.”
For the most part, John says, “It was all good clean fun. We did
not need alcohol to have fun. We just needed good friends and
family.”
Now, years later, the whole family packs up the camper and camps
all week near several other families. He says, “We have good
company, good food and good laughs.”
The experience is rewarding, for he says, “The kids learn
responsibility and I see it carry out in to their adult years.
My kids work as a team. The two older ones still show up at the
fair to help even though they do not have to…the most rewarding
part from the fairs is more than the prizes and money. It is the
bond you build with your family and the friends you gain.”
These experiences are what brings the families back year after
year.
[By ANGELA REINERS] |
