June Thomas, middle, goes through the “magic box” with Sue Martin, left, and Judy Egolf. Thomas has been a superintendent for the Home and Family Arts Building for many years. Martin is the immediate past president of Kosciusko County Extension Homemakers, while Egolf is this year’s president.
The magic box is full of things they may need while supervising the building during the fair. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

Walking into the Home and Family Arts building at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, one finds a large empty space. In a few days, that space will be full of open class exhibits from county residents and beyond.

The Kosciusko County Extension Homemakers are responsible for setting up the space, checking in the exhibits, finding the judges with assistance from the Kosciusko County Extension Office, assisting the judges, and acting as hostesses during fair week.

“There’s lots to see in here from potatoes to quilts…I think there are 10-11 sections (of exhibits) in here,” said Sue Martin, immediate past county president.

“Anybody can exhibit,” said Judy Egolf, county president, “It’s amazing how many think you have to be a member of extension homemakers (to participate.) The only rule is the item can’t be judged before.”

Egolf pointed out visiting the Home and Family Arts building during the fair doesn’t just offer an opportunity to discover something new. It allows residents to exhibit a new skill learned or display a new vegetable or plant they’ve grown. It’s also an opportunity to chat with someone about extension homemakers and get involved.

Egolf said she enjoys helping out at the fair because, “It’s the educational aspect. As a retired family and consumer science teacher, it allows me to keep up.”

Martin said she enjoys being at the fair. “Just being here… and spending time with the gals, who are not from my club.”
The Kosciusko County Extension Homemakers have been in existence for over 100 years. It got its start during a Farm Bureau meeting at North Webster school, where the women left their husbands, and began exchanging ideas.

Today, the extension homemakers have approximately 125 members in about 11 different clubs. Most clubs meet approximately once a month, while speciality clubs, such as Kosciusko County Extension Chorus, meet more frequently.

Egolf said a big issue has been having more people join and be involved in the clubs. The Kosciusko County Extension Homemakers is offering another type of membership, called mailbox members, for those whose schedules can’t handle another meeting.

For a nominal fee for dues, mailbox members receive a newsletter six times a year, they may attend any meeting they would like to attend and any lesson they would like to attend. However, Egolf said the best way to get involved in extension homemakers is to go to a club meeting.

In addition to overseeing the Home and Family Arts Building and open class exhibits during the fair, they also do a variety of community service projects.
“We have a club that makes blankets. We have a club that makes hats for the NICU and for cancer patients,” said Martin.

Kosciusko County Extension Homemakers also host a chicken barbecue as a fundraiser for college scholarships. The homemakers provide two, $1,000 scholarships for college-bound students, and one, $1,000 scholarship for a student attending trade or vocational school.

The extension homemakers also host a “Spring Fling” event and a holiday event, which is held in mid-November.
Kosciusko County Extension Homemakers is part of the Indiana Extension Homemakers Association. The IEHA has 10 districts around the state with Kosciusko County belonging to the Michigan City District, which includes Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke, St. Joseph, Marshall, Elkhart and Kosciusko counties.

This past spring, Kosciusko County Extension Homemakers hosted the IEHA’s spring meeting at Camp Mack, Milford.
“It was a wonderful day,” Martin said, with about 100 members from all over the district attending.