This year marks a remarkable milestone for the Green County 4-H Jr. Leaders as the organization celebrates 60 years of developing youth leaders, serving the community, and operating one of the Green County Fair’s most beloved traditions — the Dairy Bar.
For nearly six decades, generations of 4-H members, advisors, parents, alumni, and volunteers have worked side by side to make the Dairy Bar a welcoming destination for thousands of fairgoers. More than just a place to grab a meal, the Dairy Bar has become a gathering place where families, friends, exhibitors, and visitors can relax, reconnect, and enjoy the fair together.
The Dairy Bar also serves as the Green County 4-H Jr. Leaders’ only annual fundraiser. While fair visitors see the finished product during the five and a half days of the Green County Fair, the planning begins months in advance. Youth members participate in budgeting, menu planning, purchasing, scheduling, food preparation, customer service, and daily operations. Through these real-life experiences, they develop valuable leadership, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills that will benefit them long after their 4-H careers have ended.
Today, the Green County 4-H Jr. Leaders include 32 youth members and their families. During the fair, members and volunteers contribute well over 65 hours of service, with each two-hour shift staffed by approximately six workers to keep the Dairy Bar operating smoothly from breakfast through dinner.
To commemorate this special anniversary, the Green County 4-H Jr. Leaders invite all former advisors, members, volunteers, and Dairy Bar workers to join them for a 60th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, July 19, at 2 p.m. at the Dairy Bar during the Green County Fair. Guests are invited to enjoy cake and ice cream while reminiscing with friends, sharing stories, and celebrating six decades of memories and service.
Over the past decade, under the leadership of Dairy Bar Advisor Debbie Myers, the Dairy Bar has undergone numerous improvements designed to better serve fair guests while creating an even better learning environment for youth volunteers.
One of the first changes was adjusting the Dairy Bar’s operating hours, moving the evening closing time from 9 p.m. to 7 p.m. This decision was made to support other fair food vendors by allowing them greater opportunity for evening sales while maintaining the Dairy Bar’s commitment to affordable family dining.
The menu has also been simplified by offering premium vanilla ice cream rather than multiple flavors. This change avoids direct competition with another fair non profit organization while still allowing visitors to enjoy a wide variety of favorites, including sundaes, floats, shakes, and specialty desserts.
Visitors have also noticed significant improvements throughout the facility. The dining area has been updated to provide a cleaner, brighter, and more inviting atmosphere. Behind the scenes, new commercial coolers, updated countertops, additional cabinets, and a commercial sink system have greatly improved kitchen efficiency and food safety.
One of the most appreciated improvements has been enclosing the kitchen preparation area with screening to help reduce flies and other insects around food preparation. The cashier station was also relocated outside the kitchen, improving customer traffic flow while allowing volunteers to prepare orders more efficiently.
Recognizing the needs of exhibitors, the Dairy Bar now opens each morning with breakfast service, providing an affordable meal for youth and families who begin caring for their animals long before the fairgrounds become busy.
Daily cleaning procedures have also been enhanced with thorough wash-downs of the building and regular pest control treatments to help maintain a clean, comfortable environment throughout the week. American flags proudly displayed outside the Dairy Bar during the fair add a patriotic touch while welcoming visitors from across the region.
Although many improvements have been made over the years, the mission of the Green County 4-H Jr. Leaders has remained the same: providing meaningful leadership opportunities for youth while giving back to the community through service.
Youth may join the Green County 4-H Jr. Leaders beginning in sixth grade and remain active through their thirteenth year in 4-H. While the organization is youth-led, the continued support of alumni, parents, advisors, and community volunteers has been instrumental in preserving this tradition for future generations.
As the Green County 4-H Jr. Leaders celebrate their 60th anniversary, they do so with gratitude for the countless individuals whose dedication has made the Dairy Bar and the organization such an important part of the Green County Fair. The anniversary is not only a celebration of the past but also a tribute to the volunteers, families, and young leaders who will continue carrying this tradition forward for years to come.
The Green County 4-H Jr. Leaders invite everyone to stop by the Dairy Bar during the fair, enjoy a meal or a sweet treat, and help celebrate 60 years of youth leadership, community service, and lasting memories.
