News: Clark County (Farm Progress Days 1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Surnames: Dopp, Mills, Tieman

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (11 July 1983)

The Clark County Health Care Center is the site, but Clark County is the host.

That's the slogan officials have been proclaiming to emphasize the county-wide interest and involvement in this year's Wisconsin Farm Progress Days which begin July 19 at the 1,160-acre health facility and farm east of Owen.

More so than any other Farm Progress Days, this years event will be the result of a widespread county effort, said Arv Dopp, executive secretary of the FPD Executive Committee. All the way from the Health Care Center which is providing the grounds, to the assorted committee members, to the county residents who purchased jackets and caps to help with fund-raising, people from throughout the county have been involved.

The effort, which will culminate with the three-day show next week, began in 1979.

Arlyn Mills, Health Care Center administrator, had "thought it would be kind of neat" if FPD were help at the Clark County facility since earlier shows were held on county-operated farms in other counties. He contacted the state executive director who reacted positively to a Clark County show. Mills then contacted Dopp, who as agricultural agent would bear much of the responsibility if the event were held in Clark County.

"He said he'd think about it and later we threw out hat in the ring," recalled Mills, chairman of the event's Executive Committee.

With Portage County already chosen to host the 1982 show, Dopp said he didn't expect Clark County's exhibition to be scheduled for several years. When the FPD board met in March 1980, however, it decided to hold the 1983 show in Clark County.

FPD is usually held on a private farm or farms, but Mills and Dopp believe the county facility was an appropriate site since it provided ample grounds and reinforced the emphasis on countywide support.

Clark County has several fine farms, Mills said, but FPD could only be held on one of them. By holding it at the Health Care Center, all county farmers are represented.

"We thought this would be a logical site," Mills said. "This is a municipal facility and we thought it would be a natural."

The farm's size also was appealing.

"With the amount of land that we have there, we have not had to use two or three farms as they sometime do," Dopp said.

After receiving $7.500 from the County Board, the cast of board members and committee chairmen were assembled and planning was underway by the end of 1980.

Much of that planning has been done by a nucleus of 20 volunteers with considerable help from approximately 30 others, Dopp said.

The entire effort has required "just a countless number of volunteer hours," Dopp said. "You couldn't buy that time."

People have "just been fantastic" about helping, said Ron Tieman, Greenwood, an Executive Committee member.

"They've seen the importance of it and got right in," he said. "They just all feels that they're part of it -- which they are."

Motivation has come from the fact that this is a perfect opportunity to showcase Clark County, Dopp said. Such predominantly rural counties seldom have the chance to show off for 150,000 people.

Tieman said he became committed to the Clark County show at last fall's FPD when a potential exhibitor asked him where Clark County was.

Getting ready for the show has increased enthusiasm through the county, Mills said. He said it's emotionally healthy to show off something you are proud of.

FPD will, however, do more than make people aware of Clark County and it's 68,00 cows and 33,000 residents. There's a definite economic gain that also May be responsible for some of the volunteer interest.

The show has a $400,000 budget, but that doesn't include the money visitors will spend for gas, food, lodging and other materials in the county. That also doesn't include money area agribusinesses will make as a result exhibiting at FPD.

Tieman estimated that each dollar spent through FPD will change hands seven times before leaving the county.

"I think it's just a heck of a deal,: he said.

Tieman recalled a man at an Owen cafe a few months ago who said he didn't think FOD would have much impact on the city.

"I said, 'Fella, there are six of us sitting right here who wouldn't be here if it weren't for Farm Progress Days.'"

Communities throughout the county will share some of the impact. Not only will people travel through many of them on their way to Owen, but various events are planned throughout the county. A kick-off banquet, for example, will be held in Thorp and hospitality nigh for exhibitors will be in Loyal, Groups from several communities also will be making money at food stands to invest in local projects.

Tiean said the fact that Clark County doesn't have any large, dominant cities has given all communities a chance to participate.

If there's been a problem in coordinating the event and getting people involved, it's been in trying to impress upon them the size of the event.

"The thing I've had trouble stressing is the magnitude," Tieman said. "You just can't get them thinking that this isn't the Clark County Fair."