GREENFIELD — The crowd started off small. Clusters of people here and there huddled together and chitchatted as the sounds of the midway wafted in from afar — the happy boisterousness that only comes with the start of the fair.
As the minutes passed, the crowd grew until the heads numbered in the hundreds, each waiting with a nervous excitement for their guest of honor to arrive.
The sound of Sarah Burke’s wheelchair rolling over the gravel was almost indistinguishable over the babble. But when they spotted her, silence fell and smiles of appreciation broke over their faces.
Her friends and colleagues said a few kind words, thanked her for her two decades of service to the local 4-H program. And then they turned to reveal that the building at the center of the county fairgrounds would now bear Burke’s name as the Sarah Burke 4-H Exhibit Hall.
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It was the least they could do, they said, to recognize her years of hard work and passion, her unwavering dedication to helping young people grow through 4-H.
Burke worked for 23 years as the Hancock County Purdue Extension Office’s 4-H Youth Educator — a job that tasked her with coordinating nearly every aspect of the county’s 4-H program.
She announced recently that the 2018 Hancock County 4-H Fair, which kicked off Friday evening, would be her last. Health issues, her colleagues say, have forced her to retire.
But with Burke as its leader for the last 20 years, the county’s 4-H program has flourished, said Debbie Elsbury, the president of the extension office board.
Burke handled everything from recruiting new 4-H’ers to finding adult volunteers to run clubs and arranging fair events, Elsbury said. Every student who has signed on to participate in the last 20 years has interacted with Burke at some point, she said.
And Burke’s impact became apparent Friday.
As the crowd of onlookers settled in around Burke, watching as a look of surprise spread across her face, Elsbury asked if those who joined 4-H during Burke’s tenure would please raise their hands.
Nearly every arm shot into the air.
And tears streaked down Burke’s cheeks. She lifted a shaking hand to cover her mouth.
Renaming the exhibit hall in Burke’s honor was a joint decision by the extension office board and the Hancock County 4-H Agricultural Association. It seemed like the most fitting way to pay tribute to her, association president Josh Phares said.
In the years he’s been involved with 4-H, he has seen hundreds of young people join the program after hearing a passionate pitch from Burke. He’s seen dozens more decide to stick with 4-H thanks to Burke’s encouragement.
He’s one of them, he said: he joined 4-H years ago after meeting with Burke and kept with the program for 10 years.
If anything, that was the gift Burke gave Hancock County, Phares and Elsbury said.
Thanks to her support, the program has grown year after year, with more and more young people being named 10-year 4-H’ers.
When Burke first joined the extension office, it was common to have just eight 10-year 4-H’ers at the annual fair, Elsbury said. This year’s 10-year class, by contrast, includes more than 60 students, she said.
And Elsbury credits Burke with that success.
After the extension hall’s new marquee was revealed and the crowd broke into applause, the throng became a queue waiting to pay their well-wishes to Burke.
Among them was Vickie Ramsey, a longtime 4-H volunteer. As she walked forward to hug Burke, she wiped tears from her face.
Burke inspired so many young people, and her name above the door of the fairground’s main building should now serve as a reminder to every 4-H’er, past or present, to carry on Burke’s legacy, she said.
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Here’s a look at what’s to come at the Hancock County 4-H Fair:
Saturday, June 23
6 a.m.: Open BBQ contest, judging begins at 3 p.m., extension office parking lot
6 a.m.: 12 p.m.: Swine, dairy, beef and llama arrival
8 or 9 a.m.: 4-H Horse & Pony Show — halter, performance, Western and English, Multipurpose Arena
9 a.m.: Baby contest, Pioneer Building
10 a.m.: Exhibit Hall opens
12 p.m.: North parking lot closed to parking
3 p.m.: Carnival opens
3 p.m.: Commercial vendors open
3 p.m.: Open BBQ contest judging begins, extension office parking lot
4 p.m.: Pet parade, Show Arena
5 p.m.: All parade entries must be on the grounds
6 p.m.: 4-H BBQ contest, extension office parking lot
6 p.m.: Hancock County 4-H Fair parade
7 p.m.: Entertainment by Endless Highway, Pioneer Building
Sunday, June 24
8-9 a.m.: Check in for 4-H and Mini 4-H Rabbit Show, West Arena
9 a.m.: 4-H and Mini 4-H Rabbit Show, West Arena
10 a.m.: 4-H Beef weigh-in/check pure bred heifer papers
10 a.m.: Exhibit Hall opens
10:30 a.m.: Worship service, Pioneer Building
3 p.m.: Carnival opens
3 p.m.: Commercial vendors open
5 p.m.: 4-H Swine Gilt Show, Show Arena
6 p.m.: 4-H Llama Costume Class, West Arena
7 p.m.: X-Treme Rough Stock Tour, Multipurpose Arena
7 p.m.: Entertainment by Nebo Ridge, Pioneer Building
8 p.m.: 4-H Fashion Revue, 4-H Bowl
Monday, June 25
8 a.m.: 4-H Swine Barrow Show and Showmanship, Show Arena
8 a.m.: 4-H and Mini 4-H Poultry Show, West Arena
10 a.m.: Exhibit Hall open
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Lamb burgers served, Pioneer Building
5 p.m.: Carnival opens
5 p.m.: Commercial vendors open
6 p.m.: 4-H Pocket Pets, West Arena
6:30 p.m.: 4-H Rabbit Awards, 4-H Bowl
6:30-8:30 p.m.: Pacers Fan Van
7 p.m.: 4-H Swine Show of Champions, Show Arena
7 p.m.: Rain delay makeup night for X-Treme Rough Stock Tour, Multipurpose Arena
10 p.m.-2 a.m.: Swine release
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