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If they need to get away for a couple of minutes, Randy Shepherd and his wife Crystal find themselves on the shore of Winona Lake.
They take in the water and activities on top of it for awhile, leaving the frantic pace of the Kosciusko County 4-H and Community Fair behind for a short time.
Then it's back to the world of 4-H'ers and their projects and questions, comments and concerns of parents and other adults during the fair board's largest annual event.
Shepherd has been the 4-H Horse and Pony Club leader for almost nine years and served on the 4-H Council. Being the council's liaison with the fair board, he eventually joined the fair board and is well into his fourth year, this year as president.
The fair board members have specialties - areas they like to work - and Shepherd has always taken an interest in "the 4-H side."
His sons were 10-year 4-H'ers. Now his oldest grandson will be eligible for Exploring 4-H next year.
"He can't wait to get into 4-H," Randy said. "He'll fit right in. He's very social and looks forward to it."
The aspiring member must get it from his grandfather. Keeping more than 100 regular and 21 Exploring 4-H members and their projects content during the traditionally hottest week in July is no small task.
Randy is also the go-to guy for committee members of the other barns. If he's not wanted at one place, he's necessary at another. But he always ends up at the well-kept horse arena on the northeast side of the 66-acre fairgrounds.
The area features the arena and fenced practice area, a spacious announcing tower, a food stand and two bleacher areas, one under cover and one that is covered with afternoon shade. The barn with its many stables is in excellent condition, thanks to parents and committee members and their contributions of money and time.
"Our county is very competitive. Some of the kids show nationally," he said of the equestrians.
Clinics and workshops designed to accustom the members to each other and the horses to the grounds begin the first Wednesday in May and continues each week until the fair. The result is a calm and collected group of horses and handlers.
"Of course, some horses are dragged in from the field and ridden for the first time in a year when the fair starts."
That's 4-H, too.
"All the barns have made major improvements with cement floors in nearly every one of them. They're a lot better off than they were five years ago. Fans to keep the animals cool have been a big addition, possible with contributions from local organizations."
This year the merchants' tent has moved south, returning to its old spot by the grandstand fence. The carnival and the rides are between the Shrine Building and the merchants' tent.
"We travel to other fairs during the summer," he said. "I take pride in this property. It's the most beautiful fairgrounds we go to. I really, truly believe that."
