Josie Ann Burbrink does not remember life without the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair because it always has always been a part of her world.
This year, like all years since she was 8, Josie will compete in several events at the fair, which begins Friday and runs through July 14. And, if this year is like all the other years, she will bring home many awards to show for her yearlong efforts to get ready for the fair.
“Josie didn’t have a choice, she was born into 4-H and the fair. It was her inheritance,” said her mother, Liz Burbrink, who explained a bit of the family’s 4-H involvement.
Josie’s mom and dad, Nathan, met for the first time at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair in 1987, when they were just nine and 10 years old. Then, Liz lived on a farm in Taylorsville with her parents Jane and Larry Hoeltke. Nathan lived on his family’s farm near Jonesville. Although they lived on opposite sides of the county, they maintained a friendship at 4-H activities throughout the years. They became engaged at the fair in 1999.
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Not only were Josie’s parents involved in 4-H, her maternal grandmother Mary Jane Hoeltke was a 4-H leader for 49 years, and maternal grandfather Larry Hoeltke was a 4-H leader for 20 years. Her paternal grandparents, Bonnie and Greg Burbrink, lived and worked on the farm owned by the family for more than 150 years, and Bonnie Burbrink was a 4-H leader for more than 30 years.
“It’s not just about me. It’s about my whole family. We are all involved. We work on it together,” said Josie, now a junior 4-H leader herself.Â
A sophomore at Columbus East High School, Josie has caught the attention of people involved in the fair and related programs.
“Josie is very much involved with both 4-H and FFA programs and has shown great leadership and responsibility. She really is an amazing example for all of the members,” said Elisabeth L. Smith, Purdue Extension Bartholomew County director and 4-H youth development educator.
A lot of work
While for most people the fair is all about seeing people and having fun, for those involved in 4-H projects, it is a year-round project involving a lot of work.
For Josie and her sister Grace, the fair is about raising healthy swine and cattle, and other projects.
The pigs they will show at the fair must be purchased as piglets in the spring and raised to maturity by fair time. According to Josie, the pigs are usually about 40 pounds when they are purchased and will be raised to about 260 pounds by fair time. The pigs must be cleaned, groomed and fed throughout their stay at the farm.
“People from Wehmeier Farms stop by the farm from time to time to check on progress of the swine, and they are very good to give suggestions,” Liz Burbrink said.
On school nights, Josie and Grace spend most of their evenings taking care of the animals. They are usually down at the family’s barns until about 8 p.m.
Josie hopes to one day become a veterinarian, while Grace would like to go into nursing.
“The purpose of swine is to be pork chops, bacon and ham on someones table. But while they are here, it is most important that they well taken care of and treated humanely,” Josie said.
Not only must the pigs be nurtured, if they are going to be shown competitively they must also be trained to do certain moves at certain times. It is not easy to train a 260-pound animal to do anything.
“Each pig has their own personality. Some pigs seem to like to be trained. They like the attention. Other pigs do not want anything to do with it, but you have to train them all for the show environment,” Josie said.
Josie has shared her pig training skills with Grace, who is also advancing in 4-H swine and cattle competitions. Both girls are already helping to teach younger sister Ellie, 8, and 6-year-old brother Jacob the art of pig training.
When Josie and Grace are done at the swine quarters, they move down the barnyard and the cattle.
Not only has Josie honed her livestock showing skills, she recently won recognition in judging livestock competitions. Josie and three other local 4-H team members recently placed fourth the 4-H Division of the Indiana State Livestock Judging Contest. The team Luke Harker, Emily Hoene, Jack Rosenberger and Josie will now travel to Nebraska to compete in the national team livestock judging competition in September.
4-H beneficial
Although the Burbrink family has a long history in agriculture, Josie is quick to point out that a person does not have to be involved in farming to compete in the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair.
“The 4-H program offers a lot of projects to help someone to prepare for many different careers. You don’t have to live on a farm or be interested in agriculture to be in 4-H. That is a big misunderstanding. Anyone can join,” Burbrink said.
Josie was recently elected to a leadership position in the Columbus FFA chapter, and credits both 4-H and FFA with her successes in other areas, such as school and sports.
“I have learned a lot from both 4-H and FFA especially about time management and personal responsibility. Both of those programs have helped me,” she said.
Josie and Grace are hoping to compete at the Indiana State Fair after the county fair, and the entire Burbrink family will travel to compete in the national swine competition in Louisville, Kentucky, next month.
“This year’s fair is going to be a lot of work. There’s the livestock competition and also projects in the food division, and I am working on the genealogy of my family project, too, and there are several other things I’ll have to do with both 4-H and FFA, but I’ll be with my friends so it will all be good,” Josie said, smiling.
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Who: Josie Ann Burbrink
Age: 15
School: Columbus East, sophomore
Resides: Near Jonesville
Activities: 8-year 4-H member, vice president of Columbus FFA chapter
Future plans: Attend Purdue University for animal science studies
Family: Parents, Nathan and Liz Burbrink; sisters, Grace and Ellie; brother, Jacob
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