DEDICATION: Larry McCown

Larry McCown was raised on a farm near Hatton, Missouri. At the age of 8 he joined 4H. Every year he showed cattle in July and August in Auxvasse and at the County Fairs in the area.

At that time, there were no auctions for the livestock. Instead, the 4Hers took their heifer or steer to as many County Fairs as possible to win ribbons and trophies. Larry was active all through high school and was known for always being a 1st Place winner. He still has his trophies in his hobby room to this day.

After graduation from high school, he traveled with the Blue Sky Angus Company and their livestock show string. He traveled to Denver, Houston, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Kansas City showing prize angus cattle. The following January he traveled from Kansas City to the Western Stock Show in Denver for Mattrey Livestock, and he stayed in the railroad car with the cattle for the long, cold trip.

Always having a place in his heart for 4H, Larry volunteered 19 years ago, announcing the 4H livestock show at the Garfield County Fair; he worked hard to learn to pronounce the kid's names and remember them in following years. For the past six years, he has assisted with the auction and looks forward to the time at the fair in 2009 as he did in 1952.

Larry also loves tasting and judging for the Commissioner's Cookie Jar contest, a favorite time of fair. He helps auction the baby pigs for the pig sale in the spring for all the 4Hers to start the new year. And he watches with pride as the kids grow from show kids to the parents of the next generation of show kids.

Larry served as Garfield County Commissioner from 1996-2008. A committed supporter ofthe Garfield County Fairgrounds and the fair, he is one of the driving forces behind the growth and quality of both the venue and the events held there.