4-H a mainstay at Great Northern Fair

4-H has been a major part of the fair in Hill County for decades if not more than a century, and it is still going strong at the 2019 Great Northern Fair.

“There is over 200 project categories within 4-H, so it is not just about the animals,” 4-H Organizational Leader Cody Solomon said.

The foundations of 4-H was started in 1902 by A.B. Graham who started the youth program in Ohio with the purpose of teaching the youth in advanced farming and home farming practices.

Solomon has been involved in 4-H one way or another whether as an onlooker or a member, since he was knee high to a grasshopper. Present day, he is not only an organizational leader for 4-H, but also serves as the manager of the Chuckwagon and head of the Chuckwagon Council.

“4-H is a service community. We very much believe in our pledge and that is we pledge our head to clearer thinking, our heart to greater loyalty, our hands to larger service and our help to better living,” Solomon said. “This is a hands-on organization, not a sit back and do nothing.”

He has three daughters who are also involved in 4-H. They range from 3 to 14 years old, and are at levels from Cloverbud, for 6 to 8-year-olds, to Junior members, for 8 years to middle school ages. He added that his favorite part is watching the children grow and learn because he sees that as a job worth doing.

“My children are trying to experience a little bit of everything,” Solomon said.

He said the Chuckwagon this year not only features its standard menu, but also a nightly special menu from brisket mac & cheese Thursday, gyros Friday and chicken parmesan sandwiches Saturday. The 4-H Clubs will wrap up fair week Sunday with the 4-H Livestock Market Sale.

The sale will begin at 1 p.m., but CHS Big Sky is sponsoring a Buyer Appreciation Breakfast from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and the clubs are hosting a Buyer Appreciation Lunch starting at 11:30 a.m. in the Bigger Better Barn. Past and interested buyers as well as 4-H supporters are invited to these meals.

“We want to keep our bodies and our minds happy and healthy, so we can be productive members of our community and share that with others,” Solomon said.