Keith and Sara Murphy

Despite the fact they were born just hours apart in the Washington County Hospital and stood next to each other in line at age 16 at the DMV, it was 4-H that ultimately brought Keith and Sara Murphy together to write the story that still continues 61 years, six kids, 16 grandkids and one great-grandson later.

Keith and Sara had a blind date in the summer of 1955, just 10 days before the 4-H Exchange Trip to Michigan. After that date, Keith couldn't let so much time pass before he would see her again, so he signed up for the trip as well.

Before boarding the bus, they were alerted that if they wanted to sit together, they should choose the seat directly behind the bus driver. The chaperone was an old man that looked for couples sitting together at the back of the bus and would then cause trouble for them. They took the advice and didn't have any problem.

Sara was assigned to stay with Jacque. She was 14 and lived in a very small house. Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad and Jacque all shared one bedroom. They had tree stumps for their living room furniture. During the day, Jacque had to work at Kresges, so Sara went with her and sat on a stool in the hot, dark store.

Keith was assigned a 21-year-old whose idea of fun was looking at the flowers at the mental health hospital and guarding his 10 acres of sweet corn from the coons at night. Those activities didn't appeal to Keith, so he would walk into town each day to meet up with Sara at Kresges. They would go off to join the others in the scheduled activities. Sara stated that the 'trip would have been totally miserable without each other.”

When they returned, they dated off and on. When the fair rolled around, which happened to be during an off time, the story started to change from pencil to pen.

At that time, the kids with livestock would do a parade around the fairgrounds. Sara had gone to the fair to watch her brother John show pigs, and she spotted Keith. He stopped to see her and talk.

While chatting, his calf decided he needed to relieve himself and pee'd on Sara. Of course, Keith was embarrassed and treated her so nicely the rest of the day to try to make up for his unfriendly calf. That night, he offered her a ride home, which she accepted.

Time went on and in 1960, Keith and Sara married. They continued their involvement with 4-H in various capacities. They went on to have six kids, all of whom actively participated in 4-H