Cliff Buchan
News EditorYear after year many of the names involved with the Washington County Fair stay the same. Names like Anderson, Tank, Gadbois, Rydeen and Booren run deep in county fair history.
And add the Clemens family from the Forest Lake area to the list of families with more than two generations of fair involvement.
When Mike and Adele Clemens were raising their family of four children on an 80-acre farm in Forest Lake not far from Hugo, the county fair was a summer ritual and so was the county 4-H program.
Their kids ó Susan Clemens, Theresa Moran, John Clemens and Michael Clemens are all grown now but all still maintain ties to the county fair.
When the 133rd annual Washington County Fair takes place this week in Lake Elmo, all four of the Clemens clan, a number of their kids and their parents will once again make the rounds.
The thing to do
When Michael and Kathy Clemens married 16 years ago, it didnít take the couple long to find a 12-acre hobby farm in Columbus Township. The small farm has become a 4-H home, too, for their three children: Mitchell, 8; Miranda, 11; and Michael Anthony, 12.
That the family is involved in 4-H today should come as no surprise. Michael, along with his three siblings, grew up with 4-H as members of the Big Lakers 4-H Club.
Michael and Kathyís first date was at the county fair and many of the coupleís core group of friends today are associations built through 4-H.
ìOur closest friends have come through the 4-H program,î Michael Clemens said.
Two years ago when Miranda and Michael A. were old enough for the program, the new affiliation started. Mitchell, who is in Clover Buds and one year away from full fledged 4-H status, quickly followed suit.
ìIt took a little coaxing,î Michael Clemens said of the first 4-H involvement for the kids. ìOnce they got involved, they now look forward to it (the fair) each year.î
The Clemens family joined the Town of May 4-H Club where many of their friends, now with families of their own, were involved.
ìAt the end of the first year, the kids said theyíd do it again next year,î Kathy Clemens said.
Growing up in 4-H, Michael Clemens said he learned early the value of 4-H. There was the chance to meet and make friends and see the satisfaction of carrying projects through to completion.
And all 4-H participants learn the importance of responsibilities and getting work done, he adds.
The couple believes their kids are learning many of the same valuable lessons today.
ìItís their responsibility,î Michael said of the three kids and their projects. ìWe assist them in any way we can.î
A busy time
For Michael A., Miranda and Mitchell, the summer has moved by quickly with the arrival of the county fair this week.
For the third year, the Clemens purchased five hogs this spring that will be entered in 4-H and open swine competition this week.
The three kids are busy with a host of other 4-H projects and demonstrations that include sewing and clothing making, cooking, rabbits and shop. Miranda took part in the 4-H horse show on Wednesday with her Appaloosa Classy while Mitchell is entering the family black lab, Mystic, in the dog show again this year.
The hog project is the one that has helped the family grow the most. Kathy Clemens still smiles when she thinks back to the first summer when the pigs broke from their pen and had to be chased down.
ìI donít remember signing up for this job,î she said, recalling her thoughts on that summer day three years ago.
For three non-farm kids, the idea of raising pigs created some uncertainty, too, but not for long.
ìI didnít want the pigs,î Miranda said on the eve of showing two today (Thursday) in the swine show. ìAfter the first year I just liked them.î
ìI like them, too,î Michael A. says of the two hogs he will show. ìThey are playful.î
One of Michaelís pigs last year won a reserve grand championship and a Minnesota State Fair trip, but the boy was still too young to advance to the big fair.
The five pigs are all in the 240-pound range and will be entered in barrow classes. The hogs will be sold at market at the end of the fair.
ìI think we thought the pigs would be a lot harder,î Michael Clemens said.
3rd wave arrives
The involvement of Michael and Kathyís three kids is just part of the third wave for the Clemens family.
John and Shelly Clemens, who live in Hugo, have a daughter, Victoria, who will be in 4-H this year.
Theresa and Pete Moran of Columbus Township have a son, Patrick, entered in 4-H events. All three families are involved with the Town of May Club under open enrollment.
Susan Clemens, a veteran of county and state-level judging 4-H and demonstration projects, is another regular at the county fair.
For Michael and Kathy Clemens, the 4-H thing is just beginning. Last winter and spring saw the completion of a new barn on their 12-acre site in the northeastern corner of Columbus Township.
The barn is used for stalls for the familyís five horses, equipment and hay. And there is ample room for some more animal stalls.
ìOur plan is to get some 4-H cattle for next year,î Michael Clemens said. As a kid growing up, Clemens ran plenty of beef cattle on the home place and found a number of 4-H projects. Pigs were a good starting place and the kids will likely stick with the hogs, too, he adds.
ìThey were a little easier to handle, smaller and not as frightening for the kids,î Kathy says of the pigs.
For this week, the Clemens family will be daily residents at the county fair in Lake Elmo.
The kids look forward to their days at the fair and spending time with Town of May friends and friends from other 4-H clubs. Kathy and Michael will be there all six days and serve on the animal auction committee to close the fair.
Michael Clemens will take vacation time from his 18-year job with Hawkins, Inc. of Minneapolis, a company that produces and distributes water treatment products.
ìThe fair is a big time for all of us,î Michael Clemens says.
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