Rural Roots: Pioneer Employees and Families Support Youth at 4-H and County Fairs
Pioneer employees and families support youth and the community through 4-H and local county fairs
At Pioneer, our Commitment to Community goes far beyond providing reliable service — it’s about showing up, pitching in, and helping others. That same spirit of support and service is on full display each summer as Pioneer employees and their families give their time and talents at county fairs across Pioneer territory.
Whether mentoring youth in the show ring, volunteering behind the scenes, or continuing family traditions rooted in agriculture and 4-H, they are helping keep their rural roots alive and passing along the tradition to the next generation.
The Dunhams
For Pioneer lineman Kirby Dunham and his wife, Kamryn, it’s also a time to give back. With deep ties to 4-H, they’re among the many volunteers who help make the Champaign County Fair a meaningful experience for local youth.
Kamryn began participating in 4-H in 2006 as a Cloverbud, joining a local horse club with her sister. Over the years, she stayed active in the program — competing, serving in leadership roles, and eventually representing the county as a Horse Ambassador, a position she’s held for six years, and she chairs the Champaign County Horse Ambassador committee.
“4-H was a big part of my life growing up. It gave me confidence, leadership skills, and a lot of opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” Kamryn says. “Now, I try to create those same opportunities for today’s youth.”
Kirby began his own 4-H experience in 2009. While he didn’t show animals, he participated through non-livestock projects — including his “Safe Use of Guns” project, which advanced to the state fair. Now, as a parent, he enjoys seeing the experience from a new perspective.
“One of my favorite parts of the fair now is getting to watch our son take part — whether it’s the tractor pulls or showing pygmy goats,” Kirby says.
Their four-year old son, Arden, (who’s pictured on this month’s cover) is already joining in. Last year, he participated in the lead-line class, giving him an early introduction to the fair and 4-H environment.
Through their years of involvement, both Kirby and Kamryn have seen firsthand the impact that 4-H can have on young people — developing communication, responsibility, and leadership skills that last far beyond fair week.
“4-H helped me come out of my shell when I was younger,” says Kamryn. “As an advisor now, I try to encourage kids who might not be the loudest voice in the room to step up, take chances, and grow.”
The Dunhams hope their children and others will see the value in being part of the program — not just in showing animals or earning ribbons, but in building skills and relationships that last a lifetime.
While they’re busy supporting youth programs throughout the week, the fair is also a place for tradition. For the past several years, Kirby and Kamryn have made a point to spend Sunday night at the fair together, watching the Queen contest and the pig and calf scrambles.
“It’s a fun way to wind down and take in everything the fair has to offer,” says Kamryn.
The Johnsons
Since 1997, when their children first began showing lambs and entering cooking competitions through 4-H, Kris and Jim Johnson have been involved in the Miami County Fair and youth development programs.
“It was an easy choice for us when our children completed their time in 4-H and FFA, we knew we wanted to give back to the fair community,” says Kris, Pioneer’s human resources coordinator. “You see so much kindness surrounding your family during this one week in August, you can’t help but do something for others, too.”
And that’s what they’ve done, for more than 40 years. Today, Kris and Jim — both 4-H members in their youth — help lead the goat barn, assist with Junior Fair goat activities, and lend a hand in the sheep barn and anywhere else help is needed. Jim joined the Senior Fair Board, which he serves as vice president, and Kris volunteers wherever she can between goat and sheep shows. For 23 years, the couple also sold club lambs to 4-H and FFA youth and traveled to support kids as they showed animals across the U.S.
“When we started helping, it was because we loved the fair and what it, 4-H, and FFA stood for; we continued because our kids loved the fair, and we remain involved for the kids today who love the fair,” Jim says. “We’ve watched young people, including our own children, learn teamwork, responsibility, sportsmanship, and public speaking, and blossom into these remarkable adults. It’s incredibly rewarding.”
One highlight is seeing youth showmen competing against one another during the day and ending the evening playing cards together. It encapsulates what wonderful, down-to-earth kids are in these programs.
“Parents adopt children and children adopt parents during the week of the fair — everyone works together,” Kris says. “If a kid needs help, people are there to help them in a minute. That’s the type of community these programs and the Miami County Fair have fostered.”
The Johnsons acknowledge the countless volunteers and the Miami County Junior Fair Board leadership who made the fair possible for their own children and later their grandchildren, and continue to pay it forward. “We want to repay that appreciation by helping other families enjoy the same experience,” Jim says. “The fair wouldn’t be the same without all the people who put so much time into the event each year.”
The Eckurds
Dustin Eckurd, a lineman at Pioneer, has been involved in the county fair for as long as he can remember. When he was six years old, he was showing pigs across Ohio. By the age of nine, he was competing at his local county fair, and his passion only grew from there.
“I raised and showed hogs until I was 14,” he says. “That’s when I caught my first calf in the county calf scramble, and from then on, I showed beef steers.”
Dustin’s wife, Jennifer, began showing dairy feeders at the age of nine and later added swine after catching one in the pig scramble.
“The county fair is where we met,” Dustin says. “It’s been an important part of our lives ever since.”
Now, that tradition is being passed to the next generation. Their son, Tucker, who is four — soon to be five — will participate in pee wee showmanship this year, as well as the open class barrow show.
“Seeing him take on his first fair project has been one of the biggest joys of my life,” Dustin says. “Raising animals teaches patience and responsibility — values we believe are important.”
This year, Dustin is taking his involvement even further. He was recently elected to serve as a Champaign County fair board member and is eager to give back. “I want to do whatever I can to make the fair as fun and meaningful as it was for me growing up,” Dustin says.
The fair has given the Eckurds so many memories — from their first shows to getting engaged — and now they get to share those same experiences with their children.
The Wintrows
For the Wintrow family, attending the Miami County Fair is more than an annual tradition. With roots in agriculture and community service, the Wintrows have turned their passion into a multi-generational commitment to 4-H and local county fair participation.
Deanna, Pioneer’s district member services supervisor, previously served as an advisor for 20 years, and her husband, Chris, has been an advisor for more than 30 years. Deanna also helps coordinate the Miami County Pork Queen and Princess competition each year. Their involvement laid the groundwork for their son Clark’s path in the program, which started at a young age.
“I was going to club meetings before I was even old enough to join,” Clark recalls. “My show career started with pig jackpot shows, and I attended my first national show when I was in kindergarten.”
When the time came to officially join 4-H, Clark surprised everyone, including his parents, by choosing to show rabbits in addition to the family’s traditional focus — pigs. That decision led to a decade of growth, learning, and involvement in a wide variety of 4-H activities, from animal projects to leadership development. Clark also attended 4-H camp and eventually became a camp counselor. In 2024, Clark was awarded Outstanding 4-Her and Outstanding Swine Exhibitor for Miami County, all of which, Deanna says, helped build confidence and leadership.
Participation in local, state, and national clinics and shows has pushed the Wintrows outside of their comfort zone and helped build a network of friendships with 4-Hers across the country.
Over the years, the Wintrow family’s 4-H experience has included raising and showing rabbits, market barrows, and breeding gilts. One of their favorite annual events is the Miami County Fair, where they continue the tradition of showing pigs and competing alongside friends, neighbors, and other local families. But their fair season involvement goes beyond just the show ring — the Wintrows also raise high-quality show pigs at home, helping connect local youth with animal projects for the fair season.
“Helping other families find their perfect show pig is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do,” Deanna shares. “It’s not just about the competition — it’s about teaching, supporting, building relationships, and seeing others succeed.”
Community service, helping others through 4-H, hands-on learning, and building memories have been their biggest motivations.
“It feels good to support the same community that’s always supported us,” Deanna says.
Their most treasured memories from the county fair are less formal — including camping at the fairgrounds with friends and family, sharing late-night games of UNO and cornhole, and laughing around the barn after a long show day.
“Whether it’s animals, art, science, cooking, or leadership — there’s something for everyone,” Deanna says. “It’s a place to discover who you are and what you’re capable of.”
