Posted on August 22, 2024 at 5:00 PM by Emily Saveraid
Late July in Harrison County means one thing: county fair season. You could find Rodney Plath in Missouri Valley at the Harrison County Fair each summer. Joining the Harrison County Fair Board in 1992, Rodney started as a member and worked his way into leadership roles, serving as the vice president for six years and then president for seven years before retiring from the board in 2023.
Rodney strongly supports the youth and 4-H program at the fair. He played a critical role in preparing for the different livestock shows, often donating his equipment for the week to clean barns and help set up fences. He also helped in ways the public did not see, such as ordering supplies and picking up the entertainment tent.
During his tenure on the fair board, Rodney experienced everything from severe storms to floods that displaced the fair to fires that destroyed the grandstands to avian influenza that canceled poultry shows. He also led the board through a global pandemic that saw the cancellation of the fair but led efforts in helping 4-H still have the judging of livestock shows and static exhibits.
Harrison County thanks Rodney for his dedication to the 4-H program, the Harrison County Fair, and the countless youth he’s impacted for over three decades.
