A Hero to many in Tippecanoe County 4-H

Lafayette, Ind. (WLFI) - Long before the first lemon shake-up or elephant ear is sold at the Tippecanoe County 4-H fair, one man is already thinking about next year.

Jerry Synesael has spent the last 51 years as a volunteer at the 4-H fair.

72-year-old Synesael wouldn't think of missing a day at the fair. He put six of his own children through 4-H in Tippecanoe County, but has touched the lives of hundreds of other kids.

Synesael doesn't meet many strangers at the Tippecanoe County 4-H fair. He's been around the fairgrounds for 51 years, and says fair week is the highlight of the summer.

"I'm here every day. We started last week with the projects, at the end of this fair this year. We've already started on next year's plans so it's a year round committment that you work with, and it doesn't take a lot of time, and, we really enjoy it," said Synesael.

Six years ago, Synesael helped to bring the antique tractor exhibit to the fairgrounds. People can walk through and enjoy rows of John Deere, Oliver and Farmall tractors, some dating back to the early 1900s, and most of the 53 tractors are from Tippecanoe and Carroll Counties.

But it's the horse barn where Synesael's efforts might be the biggest.

"At one time we had tie stalls, and you just led your horse in and left it tied all the time, we had 2 by 4 partitions in between them, of course we outgrew that a lot, so we come in and gutted the whole barn and we went in and built the box stalls," said Synesael.

In addition to the old horse barn, Jerry helped to build a second one, a barn with wider stalls and more room to move. He was also part of moving the horse arena from where the Y sits now, to its current location.

"We have a nice arena now that as a result of a lot of volunteers helping, and it's just been enjoyable being a part of that," said Synesael.

Synesael's volunteer efforts don't stop with horses and tractors he's in charge of bringing in eighty-eight businesses to fill the commercial tent. He said the fair and what it represents, means 1,900 kids are busy all year with their 4-H projects. An organization he says can bring out the best in people.

"It's just fun being here, and I enjoy it a lot."

Synesael has lived in Tippecanoe County his entire life. He retired from Amerigas after 36 years of work. He now works part-time at Purdue in Parking facilities.

Synesael has served on several 4-H committees, and served on the State Fair Horse and Pony Board for eight years.