This week is an important week in the lives of the exhibitors at the annual Vernon County Youth Fair. For Spencer Thompson, president of the Vernon County 4-H Council, the county fair is the highlight of the summer. Many others are in agreement with him.

Every exhibitor and participant of the fair is a story. Recently I had an opportunity to visit with Spencer, son of Bob and Cindy Thompson and a ninth-year member of the Star 4-H. Among the offices that he has held in his local club includes president, vice president, treasurer, historian, game leader, and song leader.

Spencer is a 2007 graduate of Nevada High School and will be attending the University of Missouri at Columbia where he will be majoring in animal science with the anticipation of pre-vet. He was awarded with many scholarships.

He is looking forward to showing a crossbred steer. In previous years he has exhibited a total of 13 animals. He has also had welding exhibits, entymology and a number of different exhibits. In the steer shows, he has won classes and has had fifth overall.

Spencer enjoys showing cattle. He enjoys the grooming and learning to feed which includes learning about the animal to know how to feed it. To him the competition is enjoyable.

While in high school he was a basketball player. He compared the competition in exhibiting to playing basketball; a participant has to be prepared to be the best to compete.

This year there are others involved with 4-H as a result of Spencer's leadership. They would not be benefiting from the learning experiences or fun they are receiving if not for his efforts in community service.

Spencer has been involved with the organization of a new 4-H Club in the Fairgrounds Estate, which they have named Western 4-H Club. He commented, "They enjoy it." The club consists of all boys. He takes them out to his place and they work on the steer, which they love to do. They have had programs on bicycle safety and will be exhibiting bike safety and fish exhibits. Special arrangement has been made for two of them to take a red Angus steer to the fair.

"The fairgrounds look good," Spencer expressed. "Fairgrounds have never looked better, it is all painted."

He predicts that the fair will be successful again this year. He gives credit to the good leadership from parents, "they do all of the work and all we do is show up and show. They take care of the hard work, which is the reason it is so much fun."

When I came to Vernon County the president of the fair board was Warren Moseley. He held this position for a number of years and I learned a great deal of information from him regarding management of the fair. I also spent a great amount of time with him and during the fair we often had a cup of coffee together. I regard him as a special person in my life and he was also important to the life of the Vernon County Youth Fair.

As I visited with Spencer my thoughts reflected back to the days while working with Warren, a great-grandfather to Spencer. Many of the things Warren did during his tenure, Spencer and others are still benefiting from. Not only that, but Spencer's great-grandmother Bertha Moseley, great-grandfather Vernon Thompson and great-grandmother Dorothy Thompson also provided leadership to the fair and worked in the background.

Bertha and Dorothy worked countless hours before the computers came into use totaling the premiums and preparing the checks for each exhibitor. They worked in Warren's office and the checks were presented to the exhibitors by Saturday afternoon.

Those are fond memories. Without having given it any previous thought, here I was visiting with their great-grandson, actively involved with the fair and in 4-H leadership. There are many other families who have been involved with the fair, now in the third or fourth generation.

Monday evening conference judging was being held for the fair. I saw Spencer with two of the members from the Western Club and he was showing them how to tag their exhibits in preparation for the judging.

Later, after their exhibits were judged, Spencer said out of their total of four exhibits they received three blues and one red. He was highly pleased with the accomplishments of the first year members, expressed with a big smile. He appeared to receive more satisfaction from their success than he would have for himself. Another older 4-H member was working with the other exhibitors from the new club. This is an example of what goes on at the youth fair -- exhibitors helping other exhibitors -- another reason that makes the fair so great in the eyes of kids.

Recommendations Spencer has for younger youth: Study hard, be involved. You will make connections that will help you in life. You will have great experiences. Take chances -- do not be afraid to step out on a limb. If you fail, you learn from it. If you succeed -- it is observably worth it.