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Live United by Erin Haag

I don’t listen to the radio. I have my selected music, but I never was one to listen to the radio. With my hearing loss, it’s just too much concentration for me to process all those words without any visual cues.

When I first started at United Way, people told me, “make sure to get it on party line.” I finally made the commitment to tune into it, and I spent some time listening to it. I listened to a woman who was frustrated at a squirrel that kept eating her patio furniture. Others called into give advice, and I sat and was just delighted with the whole thing. The following week, someone called to ask where all the orioles were. Calls came in and the hour became a oriole spotting, with advice how to attract them to our yard. My kids paid attention, and proceeded to spend the next few days sneaking fruit and jams out the front door to try to catch those “oreos.” The frustrated lady called back into the party line to report that the advice worked. I was sold. I’d call in whenever we had something to communicate out — but honestly, Mike Woitas is so good at his job, sometimes I’d be on hold, waiting my turn and I’d listen to him relay the information before he even got to me.

Radio’s been changing. Like many of our local businesses, they’ve changed hands to big corporations without hometown roots. Radio folks are losing their jobs, and it makes me sad. If you’re in a position to advocate or support our local radio stations, please do so. Please take the time to communicate how impactful our local radio personalities are. I might not listen to the radio, but I’ve grown to have a deep appreciation for the service they provide our community. Most weeks, I sit down with Ron at Power 96 and talk about what we’re up to. I have the option to call in and do it over the phone, but Ron and I have a good rhythm that is just better in person. We usually talk a little about baseball before we get going.

This week, Ron and I talked about the fair. Lots of people like to ask us why we aren’t at the fair. Just like the Third of July Parade, I can tell you that it’s about capacity. We just don’t have enough people to go around. What I realized though was we’re represented. Art Hughs is one of our most dedicated volunteers, constantly advocating for us, recruiting for us and showing up when there’s a job to be done. He’s so dedicated to our community that he won the Senior of the Year award and was presented with that at the fair. This year, it’s another dedicated volunteer who’s a familiar face at United Way: Lioba Forman. Joe LaFrance also won this year, and as a past recipient of our Community Impact Grants for his dedication to the Thursday night hot meals at First Lutheran, he’s familiar to us, too. We also coordinate with Joe and his team when we have excess produce — he’ll cook it up so it doesn’t go to waste.

As I walked through booths handing out resources, I spotted our flyers for the Welcome Pantry, flyers for 2-1-1, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline cards that we’ve been getting out to agencies to distribute. Then there’s the Lions Club at the ring toss. Those dedicated Lions claim Lioba as one of their own, and they’re dedicated to serving our community as well. I’ve been so impressed with how they consistently turn up to volunteer.

I ran into a shopper, one who needs support to live independently. He greeted me and told me he needed to reschedule. I told him we’d give him a call to get that straightened out. Before I left that evening, I saw him a couple more times, and each time he told me, “don’t forget, I can’t come next week!”

A year ago, I was writing about my son’s experience with the Ring of Fire ride, and how much of a wild ride opening the pantry was. It was wild for a long time, and it’s always going to be a bit wild. But this year, I compare things more to the 4-H side of the fair. It’s dedication, with people showing up, caring for others. 4-H families are living at the fair this week, to an extent that I never realized until I became a first time 4-H mama this year. The planning of projects, guiding kids through the learning process, encouraging their ideas and growth. It’s setting goals, and learning how to care for animals, from large cows and horses to the smaller chickens and rabbits. It’s working at the Ag Learning Lab and serving people supper at the Cloverstand.

My daughter recited the pledge for the other day, and it really sunk in for me.

I pledge my head to clearer thinking,

My heart to greater loyalty,

My hands to larger service,

and my health to better living,

for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

That sure sounds like kids are going to grow up knowing how to Live United. My own children have been learning and participating in 4-H this year, but this past week their learning experience has really been accelerated. They’ve got big plans for next year. If my daughter has her way, we will be the proud owners of a goat, a duck and more chickens. We’ve been highly advised by her friend to skip the turkeys, as he finds them very annoying. He makes me laugh; he shows cattle, swine, and chickens, and doesn’t bat an eye. Turkeys though … he’s not a fan.

If you haven’t gone to the fair this week, I hope you’ll take the time to do so today or tomorrow. You have my full permission to skip the Ring of Fire ride. If you happen to remember my son’s mission to ride that every year, at this point, I haven’t heard anything about it. We’ll see what happens, and I’ll be sure to report, as I’ve had a few readers ask me about it already. Rides aside though, take the time to walk through and appreciate the time and efforts that our community puts into their work. From 4-H projects showcasing learning experiences to Open-Class artwork and floral arrangements, the county fair represents the heart of Freeborn County. If those 4-H kids are any indication, the future of Freeborn County is pretty darn special.

Erin Haag is the executive director of the United Way of Freeborn County.