A rewarding commitment: Wayne Co. Fair volunteers recognized

WOOSTER, Ohio — The biggest single event in Wayne County wouldn’t be possible without the hundreds of people who spend countless hours tending to the little details, according to Tom Stocksdale.

Stocksdale, a member of the board of directors of the Wayne County Agricultural Society, told the audience at the board’s annual appreciation dinner that without the volunteers, the Wayne Co. Fair would be impossible. As a result, for the past several years the fair board recognizes individuals who volunteer their time, talent and equipment to help make the county’s main event successful.

Honorees

Sandra Gordon grew up on a dairy farm in the Rittman area. When she started her 4-H career, there were very few livestock clubs in her area, so her father signed up as a 4-H volunteer and established the Sterling 604 Rangers. Gordon joined the club and carried dairy projects for three years.

Later, Gordon became an adviser for the club and continues to serve as the cattle and goat adviser. Gordon has been a 4-H adviser for 44 years, and during that time, she estimates that she has assisted close to 2000 4-H members.

Marian Wellert got involved as a 4-H volunteer when her children were old enough for 4-H. Wellert organized clubs in Medina, Crawford and Wayne counties, while her husband was with the Ohio Highway Patrol.

For the past 32 years, she has been a 4-H volunteer in Wayne County and has helped with the style show, food fair and as an adviser for numerous projects at the club level.

Mike Sigler was involved in 4-H when he was growing up on the family farm near Smithville. He is a 4-H adviser with the Rockin Riders 4-H Club and assists 4-H members by hauling their projects to the fair and for the past 10 years, he has hauled the champions to the designated harvesting facility. This year he hauled champions for 10 other area fairs.

Sigler has also been a member of the Wayne County Fair staff for 20 years.

Family

Priscilla Billman Sprang is the third generation of the Billman family to show dairy cattle. Sprang was raised on a 300-acre registered Jersey farm near Burbank, where the Billman family maintains a 100-year tradition of showing dairy cattle at the Wayne County Fair.

During her 10 years as a member of the Canaan Handy Helpers and Canaan Country Cousins 4-H Club, Priscilla was chosen as an Ohio Dairy delegate to the National 4-H Club Congress and was a member of the Wayne County dairy judging team.

An adviser for the Clinton Lads & Lassies 4-H club for 42 years, Sprang is a recipient of the 4-H Meritorious Service Award. She also has served on the Wayne County Extension advisory committee and the Family and Consumer Sciences committee, helping to plan and work at clinics and judging events.

During the event, Tom Wolf was recognized for his service to the board, as he retired at the end of the 2010 fair with 24 years of service as a board member.