Posted on August 21, 2023 at 12:28 PM by Emily Saveraid
John was a 4-H member in his youth. John explained there was no 4-H during the war. He joined in 1936 and held project areas of Beef and Sheep. John belonged to the Union Leaders 4-H Club. John helped many leaders along the way over the years. His wife Alberta joined the same year as John in 1936. She was from south of Cumberland in Noble township and belonged to the Union Lucky Clovers 4-H Club. Alberta sewed many dresses out of feed sacks for projects and placed second at the fair to Ardith Bailey. As she and John raised their family, Alberta was a leader of the Union Lucky Clovers and always helped with baking and cooking classes. The dress revue contest was incredibly special to her, and she encouraged many sewers to join in with the “Make it with Wool” contests. Alberta loved sewing with wool and won many contests at the Iowa State level across Iowa.
John and Alberta raised grain, beef, dairy sheep, and hogs on their family farm since the 1890s. In the community, John was instrumental in starting the Pork Producers. He helped promote the Windsor chops to local restaurants when they first came out. John served on the Co-Op Board as well as the Cass County Fair Association Board for around 14 years. On the Fairboard, he oversaw the tractor pulls. He also remembers being at the "old" 4-H grounds, moving to the "new" present location in 1949. Their family
started helping at the fair in 1960. Alberta served many hot days in the food stand, also trying to catch her kids while they showed.
John and Alberta have sat on many bleachers through the years watching their grandchildren show and now their great grandchildren. Alberta is now watching down from the Heavens, but John is where he can be with the assistance of his children whenever he can.
John still lives on his home place, with the assistance of his family, having been involved in Beef, Dairy, Hogs, and a few goats, rabbits and in their time.
