On Sunday, September 3, 2023, runners will gather at The 201st Great Geauga County Fair to run in the 5th annual Great Geauga County Fair 4-H 5K and Fun Run. Running on a picturesque route through Ohio’s oldest continuous county fair, these runners will be helping support the yearly operations of four 4-H clubs in the county including Geauga Engineering And Robotics (GEAR), Plantmasters, Breeders & Feeders, and Geauga Caprine Kids. And there is still time to register!
4-H members complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement in a positive and nurturing environment, receiving guidance from adult mentors. Geauga County has 4-H clubs for horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, rabbits, dogs, plant agriculture, sewing, cooking, plants, archery, crafting, scrapbooking, genealogy, and robotics. 4-H members compete at the county and state fairs for awards for excellence. Some 4-H members also compete in local and state science and engineering fairs.
4-H teaches the members to be caring and compassionate members of the community, training the leaders of tomorrow. “Some of the funds from 2022 4-H 5K were used by the 4-H’ers to provide meals and some gifts to families in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas,” said Jim Toth, leader of Geauga Caprine Kids. Teaching civic-mindedness, “we used some of the funds to give back to the community to Rescue Village, Veterans, Red Tulip and Geauga Hunger Task Force,” said Karen Teichman, who has been an advisor for Breeders & Feeders for 45 years. Funds from the 5K have also sponsored 4-H clubs to understand Northeast Ohio plants and the environment. “We recently went to the Oak Clearings, a savanna-type ecosystem in northwestern Ohio with the only Ohio native cactus,” said Adrienne La Favre, Plantmasters’ advisor. She added, “This year we continued our study of phenology, a special way to see the environment. Also, Colleen Sharp of Geauga County Soil and Water showed members how to study the health of a stream. We are committed to learning as much as we can about our natural world and how to care for it.”
Funding the diverse projects in the participating 4-H clubs is expensive and challenging, especially with the state-of-the-art technology required for robotics. “We have depended on funds from the 5K to pay for all the new equipment we need to buy each year for the regular robotics curriculum,” said Jeff La Favre, advisor for GEAR. “My favorite memories all revolve around the sense of pride and satisfaction I see expressed by GEAR members as they successfully complete their projects.” Projects which are part of the GEAR curriculum include building robots to follow lines and stop when there is an obstacle, a radio and amplifier. Members also learn to program robots including the Edison robot used by 5th graders and more sophisticated robots used by older members. Members go on to develop their own special projects. This year’s member projects included a device to repel deer from gardens. The funds provided through the 5K race provide the main source of funding for these projects.
Aidan Dondero, recent graduate from West Geauga High School and a member of GEAR since 4th grade, said “The GEAR 4-H advisors, Mr. and Mrs. La Favre, have had a huge impact on my life, due to their generosity and support through the years. The La Favres, friends that I have made through 4-H, and extensive knowledge that I have gained, have helped to shape me into the person that I am today.” Grant Congdon, another recent graduate, echoed Aidan’s thoughts, “I have been a member of GEAR 4-H for many years and there hasn’t been another group that has provided the support, encouragement, or generosity that I have experienced through my time in 4-H. All of the projects, meetings, and volunteer events have prepared me for whatever I choose to pursue. There are so many things I picked up from problem solving to creative thinking that you rarely experience anywhere else. I couldn’t have ever imagined what I would learn to do while I was in 4-H. All of the advisors, especially the head advisors, are the most generous and kind people I have ever met. On top of all that, the collaborative environment is unmatched and my memory of working on projects with my friends will never fade. I could not encourage others enough to participate in a group like GEAR 4-H Club.”
“The advisers and members of the 4-H clubs involved in the 5K race are grateful for the many sponsors from the community who have supported the race this year and in years past, especially the Geauga County Fair Board of the Geauga County Agricultural Society.
The fair board has supported the race since its inception. This race could not happen without the generous support of the Geauga County Agricultural Society (Geauga Fair Board)” Patterson said, an adult adviser with GEAR. 4-H . “The support of each one of you is appreciated, and we strive to provide an event that is worthy of being connected to The Great Geauga County Fair!”
For more than a century, 4-H has trained the leaders of tomorrow by encouraging experiential learning, community service, and leadership skills. Under the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and in partnership with 100 public universities, 4-H reaches more than 6 million children across the country and seeks to live up to its motto of “To make the best better.”
