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New board member wants to help youths
The Columbiana County Agricultural Hall of Fame has enshrined three.
LISBON — One of the youngest Columbiana County Fair Board members in say he wants to use his position to help youths learn.
John Karlen isn’t the first person to become a member of the Columbiana County Fair Board at the age of 21.
He’s at least the second one, according to Owen Unkefer, president of the fair board.
Unkefer said that he had done the same thing a few years ago.
“I came off the junior fair and jumped to the senior fair,” Unkefer said Monday.
Which is what Karlen did when the fair board recently decided to add more fair-board members.
“I was on the junior fair board for two years,” Karlen said.
When the age limits for the junior fair prevented him from continuing, “I wanted to do more.”
He talked to fair officials who told him what to do to get involved. He ran for election and won.
Which is why he oversees the fair’s dairy department and is involved with the junior fair.
His family has run a dairy farm for many years in Butler Township.
He said of his responsibilities, “It’s intimidating.”
More experienced board members, “are still trying to show me the ropes,” Karlen said. “They’ve done all that I’ve asked from them.”
The tradition of teaching and learning is a huge part of the fair’s existence since agriculture is the largest part of the county’s economy. This is the 164th annual fair.
Whether a youth is in a 4-H Club or a chapter of the Future Farmers of American, Karlen wants to help them learn.
“It moves them toward achievement, and it keeps them busy.”
Youths who have to go home and take care of an animal, do homework and have other chores are busy. And productive.
“They don’t have time to get into trouble,” Karlen said. “It’s a good learning procedure.”
He added that the youths are learning “life lessons. I strongly suggest kids get involved.”
Youths who can’t house a horse or a cow can find programs geared toward smaller animals.
Karlen and Unkefer both suggested that people might want to save money on vacations by staying home and visiting the fair.
The Columbiana County Agricultural Hall of Fame has enshrined three individuals during the 164th Columbiana County Fair: Paul H. Gipp of Winona, Henry A. Halverstadt of Salem, and J.H. Sinclair of Hanoverton. All awards are presented posthumously.
The contributions of these individuals will be spotlighted in ceremonies at 10:30 a.m. today in the new exhibit building.
They are:
UJ.H. Sinclair (died 1952): John Howard Sinclair, nicknamed “Howd,” lived in Hanover Town-ship all his life. A farmer, Sinclair was best known as an auctioneer, and was often called the “dean of auctioneers” in the area. As a World War I veteran, he donated his auctioneering services to many charitable causes. One bond sale he conducted on Dec. 7, 1944, sold $75,000 in war bonds. He was the secretary of the Columbiana County fair board, and also was a county commissioner.
UPaul H. Gipp (1921-2007): Gipp served the agricultural community in and beyond Columbiana County as the county’s Ohio State University Extension agricultural agent from 1967 to 1985, influencing several generations of farmers. A sheep and hay producer himself, he used his own farm experiences and management skills to help the region’s producers by initiating local and regional field days and creating demonstration projects and test plots to show farmers the latest research. Because of the county’s rich agricultural diversity, he guided farmers and published educational brochures on everything from potato blight to maple syrup.
UHenry A. Halverstadt (1857-1933): Halverstadt was born on the Sal-em Township farm purchased by his grandfather in 1812. He and his father continued to farm the land, and by the late 1800s, Halverstadt was farming about 155 acres, then considered a large farm. He raised Jersey dairy cattle, Poland China hogs and Shropshire sheep, and was also known for consistently achieving high yields. In 1931, his wheat crop yielded 40 bushels per acre, more than double the national average. He also was the first from Columbiana County to join the Hundred Bushel Club with his corn. One of the reasons for his success was his dedication and passion for the soil. He made sure his land was weed- and stone-free, and he installed tile to improve drainage.
The hall of fame enshrined its first class in 2000.
COLUMBIANA COUNTY FAIR || EVENTS ON TUESDAY
Senior Citizens enter free until 3 p.m.
7 a.m.: Gates Open.
8 a.m.: Junior Fair Market Hog Judging, North End Coliseum.
8 a.m.: Senior and Junior Fair Dairy Goats Judging, South End Coliseum.
8 a.m.: Fruit/Vegetable Judging, Hay/Grain Building.
10 a.m.: Junior Fair Booth Judging, Junior Fair Building.
10 a.m.: Junior Fair Rabbit/Poultry Skill-a-thon, Government Building.
10:30 a.m.: Agricultural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Arts & Crafts Building.
1 p.m.: Harness Racing, Grandstands.
1 p.m.: Dairy Beef Feeder Judging, Beef Complex.
2 - 4 p.m.: Woodcarvers, Midway Stage.
5 p.m.: Junior Fair Market Lamb Judging, Coliseum.
5 p.m.: Open Class Sheep Judging, Sheep Barn.
6 - 8 p.m.: Junior Fair Rabbit & Poultry Skill-a-thon.
6 - 8 p.m.: Kassie Simpson, Midway Stage.
8 p.m.: Chuck Wicks in concert with Savannah Jack, Grandstands.
Source: Columbiana County Fair