Adair County 4-H’ers recognize Nelson and Mostaert

GREENFIELD — Adair County 4-H’ers recognized Mike Nelson of Greenfield and Bart Mostaert of Fontanelle with 4-H Alumni awards during their Award’s Day program Sunday, Nov. 1.

Mostaert began his 4-H career with the Harmony Hustlers in Cedar County. He spent a large portion of his childhood involved in farming and agriculture. Each year, he competed at the Cedar County Fair showing hogs and cattle.

Mostaert was club leader of the newly formed Eureka Eagles 4-H Club in 1994 with Wayne Lents. He spent many years helping his three daughters, Sarah, Krista and Allison, show cattle at the Adair County Fair. Following the girls’ graduations, Mostaert continued to volunteer with the 4-H program as a member of the Youth Action Committee. He has tagged cattle at beef weigh-in on some of the coldest days of the winter for at least 15 years and helped get the fairgrounds in order on some of the hottest days of the summer as a 13-year member of the Adair County Fair Board. Mostaert was a helper to his friends as a young boy and continues to be a terrific volunteer and supporter for the 4-H program as an adult.

Nelson was a nine-year member of the Richland Ramblers and held each of the club offices during that time. His favorite project areas included pen of three steers and swine. He participated in all activities from selling light bulbs as a fundraiser to painting buildings at a nearby cemetery.

Nelson’s favorite part of 4-H was the county fair – the people, competition and viewing results of months of hard work and dedication. His love for the county fair continues today as Nelson has been an eight-year member of the Adair County Fair Board, serving as president for five of those years. He and his wife Lori appreciated the volunteers who were on fair board when their boys, Eric and Grant, were in 4-H, and wanted to give back to the community through the treasured tradition of county fair.

Mostaert and Nelson were honored as Adair County 4-H Alumni for their outstanding dedication to the 4-H program and their leadership, hard work and dedication to the Adair County Fair, the fairgrounds and the 4-H’ers who exhibit there.