Idaho County Ambassadors: Celebrating 20 years
By Lorie Palmer
Idaho County Free Press
The brainchild of former University of Idaho extension agent Mary Schmidt, the Idaho County Ambassadors made their debut in 1997.
Twenty years later, Idaho County 4-H Program Director Susie Heckman said she doesn’t know what she would do without the Ambassadors.
“I really don’t. I count on them, especially during the fair,” she said. “They work hard.”
“They” is a group of up to 10 high school-aged kids.
The groups started, Heckman explained, as a way to retain older 4-H kids in the local clubs.
“We didn’t want to take them out of their clubs, because they are mentors and leaders in those groups and are needed there,” she said.
Those who are Ambassadors must maintain membership in their chosen club(s), be a sophomore through senior in high school (public, private or home schooled), and have been a member of 4-H for at least four years.
Those who qualify and are interested apply and interview for the extracurricular honor.
“These kids are the face of what goes on in 4-H, as well as the help – the volunteers –for many county events,” Heckman said.
In the past, this has included help with the Idaho County 4-H party, Kids Klub and 4-H summer camps, the recycling center, Idaho Forest Group’s annual family picnic and the Farm and Forestry Fair. They also sponsor the Green Swing 4-H dance at the fair.
“And of course, they are everywhere all week long at the fair,” Heckman said. “They run errands, announce, judge – they just work everywhere and anywhere they are needed.”
When fairgoers and 4-H kids see the green shirts and khaki pants, they know they can ask questions and get a professional answer.
“Ambassadors provides a great leadership experience as members often go to 4-H groups and speak about the program, or are at the front of activities in the county,” Heckman said.
It also helps them see, she said, what it takes to prepare for an execute a large event such as the fair.
“The planning, the work – they really get a close-up view of what it takes for the fair to run and be successful,” she said.
Heckman knows the kids who apply to be Ambassadors are usually the most active, involved students.
“They learn to manage their time, prioritize and attend the mandatory monthly meetings,” Heckman said.
And it doesn’t look too bad on scholarship and college applications, either.
For information on the program, contact Heckman at 983-2667.

The 2017 Idaho County 4-H Ambassadors are from left: Davi Murphy, Laina Sonnen, Mitch Nuxoll, Bailie Gehring, Kortney Sims and Rachel Kelley.
Photo by Lorie Palmer, Idaho County Free Press.

History of the prairie laid out for fairgoers
By Lorie Palmer
Idaho County Free Press
 Robert Louis Stevenson said, “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”
That’s what a group of local farmers have been doing throughout the years. And when a group of farmers come together, things get done.
This is how the Cottonwood Lions Agriculture Museum got started. The museum is located on the grounds of the Idaho County Fair and is open all during the fair week.
“It’s quite a collection,” said Lions member Ivan Nuxoll of Greencreek, smiling. “And there are usually plenty of us older guys who can tell you what’s what.”
Nuxoll may have been surprised the first time a child didn’t know what a thresher or other piece of farm equipment was, but now understands times have changed.
“There are a lot of things in here that kids just wouldn’t have any way of knowing about anymore and that’s why we man the museum during the fair, to answer questions and explain what we can,” he said.
The museum has been gaining items for more than 20 years. And the farmers who have helped build and facilitate the museum continue to plant seeds at each session of the Idaho County Fair, through their education and the time they spend talking to kids and adults alike who wander through the building.
“It’s really nice to have so many unique antiques all under one roof,” said local farmer Don Tacke who also spends a good portion of each fair visiting with friends and answering questions in the large ag buildings located on the eastern end of the fairground complex.
The buildings house not only farm equipment and tools, but also a 1918 wagon, a Linotype typesetting machine, farmhouse furniture and clothing, tractors, blacksmith tools, saddle, lantern, butterchurn, sewing machine and a steam engine. In addition many old photos from across the Camas Prairie line several walls in the area.
“There’s a lot of history about Idaho County and the whole prairie right here in this building,” Tacke said. “We hope to see all the fairgoers stop by and see what’s in here, ask questions and visit.”
Stop by and visit the museum during regular fair hours and you’ll be sure to find a friendly, smiling face to explain displays and perhaps tell you a story or two.



A Linotype typesetting machine that was donated by former Cottonwood Chronicle owner Lloyd Rose. The Chronicle was typeset on this and other similar machines for many years prior to 1975. The photo below shows some of the metal type output by the machine. Photos on this page by Lorie Palmer, Idaho County Free Press.

This year's Kiss the Pig candidates
This year’s Kiss the Pig candidates are all local government representatives, 2 Idaho County Commissioners and one Cottonwood City Councilman.
Each candidate was asked the same 9 questions

Mark Frei
1. Were you ever in 4-H? If so, what projects did you take?  Yes, for 5 years. 3 years lambs and 2 years pigs.
2. What is your favorite activity at the Idaho County Fair?  
Fitting and Showing of pigs.
3.  What is you favorite animal?  Pig
4. If you were the pig judge at the Fair, what qualities would you look for in a grand champion pig?  Long loins
5. What is your favorite cut of pork? Bacon
6. How much do you think the grand champion pig will weigh? 270 lbs
7. Why did you accept the nomination to be a candidate in this race?  (I was roped into it.) I wanted to raise money for 4-H.
8. As a candidate in this race, you obviously support the Idaho County 4-H program. What other community organizations do you support or are involved in?  Hope Pregnancy Center
9. If you win this race and receive the honor of kissing the grand champion pig how do you plan to celebrate? With a moist towelette and then some ice cream.

Ron Grant
1. Were you ever in 4-H? If so, what projects did you take? No.
2. What is your favorite activity at the Idaho County Fair? Eating Lion’s Club burgers.
3.  What is you favorite animal? Pigs, of course.
4. If you were the pig judge at the Fair, what qualities would you look
for in a grand champion pig? A pretty smile and long eyelashes.
5. What is your favorite cut of pork? Bacon
6. How much do you think the grand champion pig will weigh? Hopefully more than I weigh (which I’m not telling).
7. Why did you accept the nomination to be a candidate in this race? I like pigs.
8. As a candidate in this race, you obviously support the Idaho County 4-H
program. What other community organizations do you support or are involved
in? Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Department and others.
9. If you win this race and receive the honor of kissing the grand champion pig how do you plan to celebrate? If there is any “animal magnetism” between us, I might ask the pig out on a date.

Skipper Brandt
1. Were you ever in 4-H? If so, what projects did you take? Nope!
2. What is your favorite activity at the Idaho County Fair?  Eating fair food!
3.  What is your favorite animal?  Dogs! Then cats, but only to train good dogs.
4. If you were the pig judge at the Fair, what qualities would you look for in a grand champion pig?  It would have to look like it would make good bacon!
5. What is your favorite cut of pork? Bacon, Bacon, and then Bacon!
6. How much do you think the grand champion pig will weigh? 289.3 lbs.
7. Why did you accept the nomination to be a candidate in this race?  You mean I had a choice? I have learned that the better point of valor is to only say “Yes Dear”!
8. As a candidate in this race, you obviously support the Idaho County 4-H program. What other community organizations do you support or are involved in? I support all community organizations, except the Democratic Party! ??
9. If you win this race and receive the honor of kissing the grand champion pig how do you plan to celebrate? By buying a large bottle of mouth wash!

Cottonwood, Idaho 83522
 

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