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Anyone who has followed my columns over the years knows that Oglebayfest has always held a special place in our hearts. Our son Jamie was born on a Saturday during the annual fall festival, which is held at Oglebay Park. While everyone was enjoying the festival in 1985, we were welcoming our son at Wheeling Hospital.
So each year we would return to Oglebay and celebrate the season and a birthday. This tradition has continued with Jamie's children now enjoying the events of this past weekend.
While crafts and such are of little interest to 6- and 7-year-olds, we headed straight to the Ohio County Country Fair this year. Of particular enjoyment this time around was a visit to the 4-H tent and displays. Of course, we marveled at the size of the cows and were amused at the piglets, goats and chicks.
However, the biggest delight was found at the center table where a wonderful 4-H lady handed each child a reusable gift bag that they could use to select five apples from five varieties raised right here in West Virginia, plus an ear of corn and squash. There also were stickers that kids love to plaster everywhere.
We found this to be such a wonderful teaching moment for the youngsters to learn about agriculture. Imagine kids being excited over apples and not candy. Two of the apples were eaten before we returned home!
In all my years of reporting, I have always found that 4-H has made a difference in the lives of many young people. While most residents of the Ohio Valley don't think of it as an agricultural area, I would disagree. What 4-H has done and continues to do for families benefits us all.
Talk about traditions, youngsters in 4-H who raise cattle or other animals most likely learned the activity from their parents or grandparents. The delight these kids find in raising and showing their animals and then competing for the blue ribbon is palpable at judging time.
Sometimes it's hard to let go of their animals at auction time, but they understand the process and move on to the next year's challenge. There are many lessons learned in 4-H.
We are blessed to have 4-H programs in our communities. The youngsters who take part do not have their heads buried in video games or complain "there's nothing to do." I
f they aren't tending to their animals or other projects, they are meeting to share ideas and make life-long friendships.
They do and can take pride in their accomplishments. So should we.
Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.