Holmes County honors volunteers, strengthens 4 H and fair programs

Holmes County saluted the volunteers who keep youth programs and fair events operating during a Volunteer Recognition Banquet held November 20. Organizers presented a Partners of 4 H honor to Exclusively Yours Catering, recognized Angela Sparr posthumously as a Friend of 4 H, and awarded the Friend of Fair distinction to Debbie Scholl alongside the grandstand crew for steady service at fair events. The gathering highlighted the behind the scenes labor that undergirds community activities.

Volunteer roles celebrated at the banquet included ticketing, seating, cleaning, and the many other operational tasks that do not always draw public attention. Advisers and presenters noted that these functions are essential to delivering safe and organized events and to sustaining 4 H programming for youth. Long term volunteer involvement provides continuity year to year, ensuring that mentorship, skill building, and hands on learning remain available to young residents.

The local economic implications are practical and immediate. Sustained volunteer capacity reduces the need for paid labor and helps county organizers allocate limited budget resources to program materials and youth activities. Reliable volunteer teams also make fair events feasible, which supports local vendors and community vendors who depend on annual attendance. For a county where community institutions form a core part of social and economic life, that operational resilience matters for families and small local businesses.

Beyond the immediate budgetary effects, advisers emphasized the long term social return on volunteer investment. Regular volunteers help preserve institutional knowledge about event logistics and safety procedures, and they model civic engagement for 4 H members. The posthumous recognition of Angela Sparr underscored the intergenerational nature of this work and the way individual commitment can shape programs over decades.

County leaders closed the banquet by thanking honorees and the many unnamed volunteers who perform routine but vital duties. The ceremony served both as recognition and as a reminder that the continuity of 4 H activities and fair operations depends on community members who give their time, often quietly, to keep county traditions and youth opportunities alive.