Washington County 4-H adds Fishers to hall of fame

WASHINGTON — Washington County 4-H announced the addition of Duane and Vicky Fisher to its Hall of Fame Thursday night, during the Washington County Fair’s award presentation on the fairgrounds.

Washington County 4-H Youth Coordinator Amy Green made the announcement. She said the Fishers were instrumental in starting the community’s now-competitive goat program in 2006, as well as its fundraiser pancake breakfast in 2009.

"They have been significant contributors with their personal time, talent, knowledge, and sweat to establish these great improvements,“ Green said. ”Vicky has a personality that will care for others. I get emotional because she has cared for me, many times … she cares for me, she cares for kids, she cares for goats. She’s a very caring personality, and we all have come to know and love her.“

Green shared the story of Washington County’s goat program, which started as a sub-event under dairy cattle, and swapped barns around the grounds until settling into the current goat building.

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Green said the fair’s goat show had thrived nonetheless over those years, growing from 16 entries at its debut to 118 in 2023. She credited that success to the Fishers, saying they led the yearslong fundraising push to create a dedicated space for those exhibitors.

“Goats have been bumped up with every other species in this entire place, they have been the department that has flexed and pivoted over and over again,” she said. “It was their ability to see a need, their belief, work ethic that made much success come to life in our county.”

Accepting the award, Vicky Fisher said she was thankful for the support of her family along the way, and happy to play a part at the Washington County Fair.

“I love animals, I’ve probably had just about every species somewhere on my farm at some point,” she said. “I love the 4-H program, I love doing the goats, it’s a great project … I’ve had many kids that have gone through the program that I watched grow up showing goats, and I still call them my kids.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com