Iowa 4-H Foundation

Posted on August 26, 2016 at 7:53 AM by Emily Saveraid

Dale RueberThe 2016 Fayette County Hall of Fame recipients are Dale and Mary Rueber of Westgate.

Dale started 4-H in Fayette County at age 10 as a member of the Harlan Livestock 4-H club.  At age 12, he volunteered to gather bids from the buyers and at age 14 he joined six other adult auctioneers selling the 4-H beef and sheep. In 1995, the achievement auction changed allowing more youth to get involved, by selling the ribbons won and eliminating the selling of live animals. 

Dale retired from auctioneering the achievement auction following the 2014 Fayette County Fair but remains a strong supporter by hauling exhibitors’ livestock to and from the fair for a very minimal fee.

Growing up, Mary was a nine year member of the Fontana Bluebells and Hazelton Go Getters 4-H clubs in Buchanan County. Mary’s love for the 4-H program continues today and she can be seen helping in different capacities during the county fair; serving as the visual arts superintendent on static judging day, and helping with the swine show. Mary is a big help, not only at the fair but also at county wide project workshops, leading sessions making items using pigskin.  She also helps local 4-H clubs by judging club achievement shows.  In neighboring counties, Mary judges bucket bottle, photography, and home improvement.

Dale and Mary work side by side in their family business, Rueber Livestock, in which they haul livestock from patrons’ farms to sale barns throughout eastern Iowa. They also crop farm 240 acres.

Their children, RaeAnn and Darin were both 9 year Fayette County 4-H members, displaying exhibits in the 4-H building and showing beef, sheep and swine.  The family trip each year was to the Iowa State Fair making an effort to stop and see the local youth’s exhibits in the 4-H building, livestock barns and show pavilion. 

Categories: Fayette

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