Kevin Hora honored as 4-H Hall of Fame recipient

Kevin Hora was recognized July 22 at the Washington County fairgrounds as Washington County’s 2021 4-H Hall of Fame recipient with the entire fair board and his family by his side. He will be inducted into the 2021 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 22. Each Iowa county is invited to nominate a recipient annually who is recognized again, formally, by the Iowa 4-H Foundation.

Hora will be recognized at 3:30 p.m. in the 4-H Building on the Iowa State Fair Grounds. A reception will follow the presentations.

A familiar and beloved face on the fairgrounds, 4-H’ers have been known to comment, “He’s on the tractor again” when Kevin Hora drives by during fair week. His commitment to 4-H is undeniable, starting with the strong and long-lasting family tradition of 4-H members.

Hora’s father was a fair board member, giving him a behind the scenes view of the work it takes to put on a county fair. That experience paved the way for him to be a future fair board member himself.

Hora was a member of the Jackson Boys 4-H Club from fourth grade through 12th grade, and he participated in a variety of project areas, including swine, beef, woodworking, welding and educational presentations.

His most fond memory took place in the “original” Washington County show ring (known now as 4-H Hall) during the Grand Champion Drive at the 4-H swine show, when he was selected as the reserve champion.

All three of Hora’s children — Cody, Sarah, and Caleb — followed the tradition, going through the Washington County 4-H program as well. In 1992, Hora joined the Washington County Fair Board Association and has served as the all-around handyman ever since.

In his nearly 30 years of service, Hora notes some of the large projects that he helped come to life, including the building of Dallmeyer Hall — complete with a banquet hall and space for the Extension Office and fair board, creation of a livestock entrance for improved traffic flow, and the installation of a new cattle wash rack.

These projects have been only a few on the long list of transformation and growth that have happened on the fairgrounds, thanks to Hora’s hands in dirt work, electrical work, water lines and sewer lines. In regard to all of those odd jobs that he is tasked with, Hora says, “It just needs done” and sees the project through its completion.

A county fair is not possible without dedicated volunteers like Kevin Hora. His impact is evidenced on nearly every square inch of the Washington County fairgrounds.