2020 Montgomery County: Larry & Sherry Heuer

From the moment he was old enough to know farm life, Larry Heuer, lived it. Growing up on a family farm and having livestock, Franklin and Verna Heuer saw to it that agriculture was in his blood. With much support of his parents, Larry grew up participating in Montgomery County 4-H and FFA. He showed various animal breeds and always had some sort of shop project that he and his father had concocted to take to the fair. He held many officer titles and attended many state conventions throughout his years in 4-H and FFA. 

Sherry grew up trying on high heels and gogo boots at Sundell Shoe Store. Her parents, Don and Katie Boyle, kept her busy in the shoe business. When she wasn’t at the shoe store, she was found on the south east edge of Red Oak at Askey Pony Farm, living every “city girls” dream of being around horses.  Sherry eventually traded those gogo boots for cowboy boots and tried out for the Sidney Iowa Rodeo Queen Contest.

With their love of animals and farming, Sherry and Larry were married 52 years and built their lives on Salem Ridge Farm, raising two daughters, Michelle and Amy. Larry and Sherry always encouraged their daughters when it came to 4-H and FFA. Having one of the main Purebred Ayrshire dairy farms in Montgomery County, the Heuer’s played a role in bringing the dairy life to town each summer for fair. Larry and Sherry participated in helping at many fair activities, being on the fair board and educating the community and its youth about dairy farming. Larry also served as a dairy superintendent for many years. Besides their own children and grandchildren’s fair activities, both Larry and Sherry helped other youth with making sure they had projects of their own, from show cattle to bucket calves, hogs, sheep, picture taking or just baking cookies or pies to make sure they got the true Montgomery County Fair experience. Larry was a dairy judge for years around the surrounding counties and eventually dabbled a bit in dairy goat judging. For years, even after their girls and their grandchildren were grown, they both remained huge supporters of the Montgomery County Fair and encouraged the importance of 4H and FFA.