JUNIOR FAIR Gazebo honors 'father' to many

Darrel Bacon was the kind of guy you call your 'other father,' said George Houk, a farmer and 4-H adviser.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- He may have been a man of few words, but Darrel A. Bacon had a big heart.
His legacy and dedication to the Junior Fair lives on in the form of yet another gift that keeps his dream and memory alive.
A new gazebo, donated by Bacon's friends and family was dedicated in his memory Wednesday afternoon.
Bacon became a 4-H adviser March 17, 1939, and during his nearly 70 years of service encouraged hundreds of youngsters and spent thousands of hours working to make the Junior Fair better, said George Houk.
Houk describes himself as a fellow farmer and 4-H adviser.
"Darrel was my adviser," he added. "He was the kind of guy you call your 'other father.' "
Houk, Don Snyder Jr. and Kim Moff officiated at the memorial service and dedication ceremony.
Snyder, Bacon's nephew, oversees the Junior Fair as a fair director; Moff is Junior Fair manager.
Contributions
Bacon's greatest contribution to the Junior Fair, Houk said, "was his tireless efforts to make the best Junior Fair even better. He wanted to see the youth of Mahoning County grow beyond their potential."
Friends and family of Bacon, who died last fall, came together to build the gazebo much as they would to get something done on a farm, Houk continued.
"Every time we asked for help we always got it," said Gary Hemphill, owner of Hemphill & amp; Sons Construction.
Hemphill supervised construction of the gazebo.
The octagon-shaped gazebo is 20 feet in diameter, holds 13 park benches and was designed by David Harris Jr.
It took two months to build, using all volunteer labor, and is near the 4-H complex at the north end of the fairgrounds.
kubik@vindy.com