[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 25, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WHITLEY COUNTY 4-H FAIR

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                             HON. JIM BANKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 25, 2024

  Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th 
anniversary of the Whitley County 4-H Fair.
  Though 1924 marked the first year of the fair's uninterrupted, 
century-long run, its history extends all the way back to 1856 in 
various forms. This long-standing tradition has made Whitley County a 
leader in Indiana fairs since before the American Civil War.
  The fair has always been about helping, educating, and entertaining 
Hoosiers. But it has also fulfilled an even deeper role for Whitley 
County residents: fostering a sense of community. This is its most 
significant and cherished contribution.
  Whether through its ball games, picnics, or opportunities for proud 
farmers to display their finest produce for neighbors, the fair has 
fostered countless moments of community over the past century.
  This legacy is perhaps best exemplified by a 1935 article in the 
Prairie Farmer. When the marshal of that year's parade was thrown from 
his horse and broke his ankle, the farmers at the fair took up a 
collection to pay his medical bills and lost wages. The article states, 
``That's the kind of folks these big-hearted Whitley County farmers 
are. They're always ready to help a neighbor . . .'' That was true 
then, and it remains true today.
  The 4-H fair has made an indelible impact on the families, farmers, 
and businesses of Whitley County, and it will continue to do so for 
another hundred years or more. As the slogan for the fast-growing fair 
in 1935 declared: ``Forward, Whitley County!''

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