4H-ers spruce up, give back

Dalton-Kidron Big 4 4-H member Rowan Myers, 9, and his mom, Nicole Myers, join dozens of other 4-H members and family members to spruce up around the Dalton Community Historical Society property.

Elena and Marita Strasbaugh, along with their sister, Aubrey, are fifth generation 4-Hers. Their grandparents, Laurel and Larry Strasbaugh, lead the organization and they are following in Laurel’s grandfather’s footsteps.

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA McCUNE | DGKN

Gannon Myers, 14, rakes leaves May 8 at the Dalton Community Historical Society with fellow 4-Hers.

DGKN staff report

DALTON  Some members of the Dalton-Kidron Big 4 4-H Club agree they look forward to an annual meeting of the organization during the spring when they get outside, get their hands dirty, and give back to the community.

At the annual spring cleanup May 8 of the Dalton Community Historical Society grounds, dozens of 4-Hers and their parents gathered on a drizzly evening with gardening gloves, tools, and wheelbarrows ready to spread mulch, pull weeds, and rake leaves.

Larry and Laurel Strasbaugh are organizational advisers for the group. Laurel Strasbaugh said her grandfather began the group and they are keeping alive the tradition more than 75 years later. Now their grandkids – fifth generation – are involved in the club and both Elena and Marita Strasbaugh were pulling weeds last week – and seemed to be enjoying the work.

“You get to be outside and help out in the community,” 12-year-old Elena Strasbaugh said.

Marita Strasbaugh, 10, said the outdoor hands-on meeting allows 4-Hers to socialize with one another and “you see more progress when you’re outside working.”

The club has anywhere from 65-80 members on average and children are involved from age 5 to age 18. The club is active February through August with regular meetings and programs and they do projects in the community and for the Wayne County Fair.

In no time, the historical society’s grounds were cleared up and tidy and ready to welcome visitors this spring and summer.

The Eagle Tavern/Wertz Hotel, built in 1821 and other campus buildings are open by appointment and special tours by organizations, classrooms and interested parties are welcome. The Dalton Community Historical Society has an open house 1-4 p.m. the first Sunday of every month. The society was organized in 1978 and has various collections of historical materials preserved and available for viewing in the museums at 115 E