By Lori Ehde4-H families liken county fair time to tournament time in high school basketball or harvest time for farmers."It’s when we get to show off our work," said 15-year-old Hilary Hanson. She and her sister, Diana, 13, have been busy all year working on projects and participating in 4-H meetings and community events.Besides each showing horses, the girls took on ambitious lists of 4-H work.Diana is in creative arts, food, demonstration and performing arts.Hilary, who’s in driver’s education and basketball and volleyball camps this summer, scaled back somewhat on 4-H involvement.She’s showing horses and has a colored pencil drawing in fine arts. She leaves for a national youth leadership convention this week and won’t be home until the first day of the fair.June 28, Presentation Night, was a big night for 4-H kids who had demonstrations, foods review, performing arts and software presentation.In addition to having their projects judged and performing with their horses in front of judges, the girls also take their shifts in the 4-H food stand and pick up miscellaneous responsibilities, such has helping to clean the 4-H building prior to the fair.Hilary and Diana are the youngest of four children Earl and Janet Hanson have raised in the 4-H community, and fair time has become a season in itself for them."It’s sometimes harrying to try to keep up with where everyone else is," Earl said. "They’re always busy."Throw in a wedding (their oldest daughter Andrea was married two weeks ago) and they could easily win the contest for busiest family this summer."Yes, it’s hectic," Janet said when asked what life has been like in the past week. But she quickly adds that that shouldn’t scare families away from joining 4-H."It’s as much or little as you want to put into it. … There are kids who have only one project … That’s what’s cool about it. That, and it’s a family thing."She said she grew up in 4-H but her parents didn’t get as involved, so she didn’t get to experience the program on the level her girls are now."It’s a life-teaching experience," Janet said, referring to details like recordkeeping on projects."It’s stuff you need to know as an adult."Earl referred to Fashion Revue as an example of common-sense skills 4-H kids learn. "It’s not about who has the neatest looking outfit, it’s about knowing how much you spent on it and how to care for it."Earl, who works with Blue Mound Insurance and Financial Services, said he’s not as involved with the girls’ 4-H projects as Janet has been, but he helps out where he can.For example, in horse judging, part of the competition involves opening and closing a gate without getting off the horse, so he built a wooden gate in the back yard for Diana and Hilary to practice with.The Hanson’s location on the east edge of town has been handy for their horse work.They rent barn space and pasture ground from Case Feikema, so accessing the animals amounts to crossing through the hedge in the back yard into the open country."This has been pretty neat for us," Earl said. Between the two of them, in their years of 4-H involvement, Hilary and Diana have covered a wall in one room with plaques, trophies and ribbons — evidence that they take the program seriously."4-H has been a good experience for our family," Janet said. "They’ve learned so many different things."Now, the Hansons are starting a third generation in 4-H with a granddaughter in Cloverbuds."I just believe in the program," Janet said.Despite the responsibilities and demanding fair schedule the family agrees the busy times are happy times."It’s like tournament time for basketball players," Earl said. "It’s work, but what kid wants to give that up?"See the Fair Premium Book for a complete 4-H schedule, or call the Extension Office, 283-1302, for information. Judging starts Wednesday, and all fair activities officially get underway Thursday.
