Bill and Joan Shoemaker and Nancy and Bob Guernsey were surprised to be the four new members inducted into the Boone County 4-H Fair Board Hall of Fame Friday afternoon, July 20, at the opening ceremonies for the 2012 fair.
Bill and Joan Shoemaker are life-long residents of Boone County and have been active in 4-H in many ways, said Pam Hill-Gibson, president of the fair board.
Bill grew up in Union Township and went to grade school in three different one-room schools — Rosston, Northfield and Gadsden. He graduated from Zionsville (Community) High School and Purdue University, with a degree in agriculture education.
Joan grew up in Lakewood, Ohio, and also attended Purdue, where she graduated with a degree in microbiology.
Bill started as a 4-H leader when he was still a junior leader, and he remained a leader for 42 years. He was a Boone County fair board member for 22 years, including 10 years as vice president. Farming has been his main career, but he has held side vocations as an agricultural loan officer for 25 years at Boone County State Bank and 10 years with Farmers Bank.
He served as a lieutenant officer, and was in combat for two years in Korea for the 37th Field Artillery Battalion. He has been a member of the Boone County Farm Bureau for 65 years and Farms Home Administration for eight years. He is a long-time member of the American Legion Post No. 79, and a charter member of Central Indiana Korean War Veterans, Elks Lodge, Kiwanis Club and a 32 Degree Mason. He is also a long-time member of Mts. Runn Baptist Church, and he and Joan are members of the Christ Lutheran Church in Zionsville.
Joan received her master’s degree in education from Butler University. She was a librarian and science teacher 15 years after raising her children. She has been a member of Psi Iota Xi service and philanthropic sorority, GFWC Women’s Club and the Friends of the Zionsville Library. She has been a project leader for several 4-H projects, such as wildlife, weather, geology, forestry, soil and water conservation. She also judged science 4-H projects at many county and state fairs for about 30 years.
The couple has two sets of twins — Doug and Deidre, and Natalie and Nanette. All four were 10-year 4-H members. The couple also has five grandchildren, two of which were 10-year 4-H members.
The Guernseys have learned the value of volunteering in the community and giving back through their time with 4-H, Hill-Gibson said. They are thankful for the friends and the opportunities 4-H has given them.
Nancy and Bob Guernsey live in Harrison Township and both were active 4-Hers. Nancy was able to complete 11 years in 4-H. Her first fair was in 1951, and it was held at Lebanon Memorial Park, where cattle were shown on the baseball field. Some of her memories include playing cards in the beef barn, helping others show livestock, and baking so many butter cakes that even the dog got tired of them. Nancy helped renovate the current 4-H fairgrounds.
Bob started in 4-H when he moved to Jamestown in junior high school. He and Nancy have served on both the 4-H board and the 4-H council, where Bob is past-president of both. They have also served on the extension board, building and grounds committee, 4-H Boosters, along with various others.
Nancy has served on the 4-H awards committee for many years, and Bob has been involved in county government. They have served 30-plus years on Purdue CARET, where they have been in leadership roles at the state and national level. Bob was a founding member of the Boone County Pork Producers. They are both involved in their church in Jamestown.
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