Visitors to the Seward County fairgrounds may have noticed a new exhibit at the entry.
The 4-H and FFA Honor Exhibit features seven groups of animals and children, depicted in animal show poses.
Ken Schmieding of Seward is the driving force behind the new exhibit. He said the idea came to him while he was in the hospital.
“I thought about my life and how Seward has been great to me,” he said.
He wanted to show his appreciation, but sports and school were already covered. As a young man, 4-H was a big part of his life, so he chose to recognize that program and added FFA.
“I had a lot of friends from 4-H,” he said. “I wanted to try to do a tribute in memory of all the people involved.”
The project didn’t start out as big as it ended up, he said. He expected to spend $40,000 to $60,000, but the installation cost more than that. It’s all paid for through donations, he said.
“Every dime we collected went toward the project,” Schmieding said.
The Seward County fair board chose the location and will be responsible for maintenance and upkeep, he said.
A volunteer committee considered which animals to include and chose beef and dairy cattle, a horse, a pig, a meat goat, a sheep and a chicken. Photographs from 4-Hers and families helped set the show poses.
An adult stands in the center, talking to the poultry and sheep showmen. Schmieding said having the adult helped set the theme for the exhibit.
“This man, or mentor, represents the many excellent teachers who have helped young people care for, and learn about, their livestock projects,” the plaque at the exhibit said.
An artist in Lincoln helped determine the layout. Icon Poly of Gibbon built and installed the statues.
Schmieding said when he and Clark Kolterman went to pick up the pig statue, they were talking to the Vohlands’ son. The Vohlands own Icon Poly, and their son Remington works in the paint department. Kolterman decided that day the pig’s name was Remington, which made the families’ day.
Schmieding said the installation is better than he imagined. Putting it on a concrete base helped bring it together and made it more visible.
“I had a good time doing it,” Schmieding said. “But it couldn’t have been done without the team.”
