Dubois County 4-H Fair receives funding to operate nationally sanctioned rodeo

TransCanada2012 — Dubois County 4-H Council Officers were excited to accept the TransCanada donation. From right to left: Sara Betz, 4-H Council Secretary, Jerry Egloff, 4-H Council President, TransCanada Representatives, Danny Carr, Rod Jacob, Jenna Cole, Clay Boone, Melissa Miller 4-H Council Treasurer, and Dan Collignon 4-H Council Vice President

A generous donation from TransCanada has helped the Dubois County Council fund a rodeo as a large event for the fair this year.

TransCanada and the Dubois County 4-H Council met today at the Dubois County 4-H Fairgrounds Clover Pavilion where TransCanada presented a $15,000 check to the council. $5000 will be used to fund curriculum manuals, trips, and rewards for 4-H participants and $10,000 will be used for the rodeo being operated by Big Hat Productions out of Hebron, Ill.

The rodeo is an officially sanctioned International Professional Rodeo Association event and winners could end up at the national championship taking place in Chicago this November.

The last rodeo at the annual fair occurred about six years ago according Kendall Martin, the county’s extension educator for 4-H youth development. The event will be a sanctioned rodeo event in the national rodeo circuit. “We constantly field requests from all over the county and the council keeps their ears to the ground about new events. Rodeo is one that perennially pops up, folks just like it,” Martin explained, “but the event is a big ticket event and is almost cost prohibitive to bring in without outside assistance.”

This isn’t the first time TransCanada has donated to the 4-H Fair fund. Martin explained the company came to the 4-H Fair last year and made a sizable donation. “Last year they donated $2000,” Martin explained. “They wanted to become more involved and they asked us what needed funding. Of course donations to 4-H are always needed and the rodeo is an idea they (TransCanada) immediately latched onto.”

During the event today Danny Carr, TransCanada representative, said “I have a special affinity for 4-H. I was a member when I was a youngster. I know from experience the positive impact your organization [4-H] has on young people.”

Carr thanked Rod Jacob, an employee of the company from Dubois County, for connecting TransCanada to the Dubois County 4-H program and pursuing this donation to success. He stated, “This is a great avenue to show local community support. We see a natural affinity in assisting 4-H.”

“4-H is a part of the fabric of this community in Indiana.” Carr continued. “We salute you for all the good work your members and volunteers do to support the youth in this community. We hope that today’s donation will make your summer time events successful.”

The 4-H Fair is scheduled for July 15 to 21. The rodeo will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, July 16 and will include bull riding, steer wrestling, and team roping.

“We don’t want to exclude any potential 4-H member,” Martin said, “and donations like this just help us get that accomplished.”

TransCanada operates several natural gas and crude pipelines in North America. Currently, TransCanada is applying to construct the Keystone XL pipeline to bring crude oil from Canadian oil fields to refineries in the United States. A natural gas pipeline runs through Dubois County.

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