MONROE - Kelsi Babler, 10, Monroe, was excited to see how much the 50-year-old 4-H book found at her home was similar to the one she uses.
"She had to write things down just like I do," the little girl said with a smile.
Kelsi is in her second year with the Young Americans 4-H club. She shows rabbits and enters her ceramic projects at the fair, she said proudly. Getting a 4-H book from so long ago was something she never expected.
The 4-H book belonged to Shirley Lewis. Her name and birth date were written on the front of the book. It was found about two weeks ago behind the bathroom wall in Kelli Babler's house during some remodeling work.
Shirley Lewis, who is now Shirley Kummer, lives in Monticello. She said the bathroom used to be a closet and it was there that she kept her book.
The book, which was written in 1949 and 1950, is in remarkably good shape for having been lost for more than half a century. Kummer's record sheet of her parent's farm inspection and her report about her cooking project are easily readable. The words were carefully written.
Kummer completed the book when she was 10 years old - the same age as Kelsi.
"This is really neat," Kelsi said, leafing through the green book carefully so as to not to rip any pages.
Kelsi pointed out that the pledge from 50 years ago was almost the same as today's pledge. The words "and my world" were added in the 1960s, Kelli Babler said. Otherwise, the pledge is the same.
Kummer, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lewis, said she grew up on a farm and was in 4-H for a few years. She had forgotten about her book until Jayne Butts from the University of Wisconsin-Extension office called and told her someone found it.
"I was surprised when I heard they found my book," she said.
Chad Trimble was remodeling the bathroom a couple of weeks ago when he found the book behind the wall.
"I saw it was old paper and thought it was money," he joked. "I decided to give it to Kelsi."
Kelli Babler said they'll give the book back to Kummer, but first it will be displayed at the Green County Fair for people to see. The fair is July 21-25 in Monroe.
"She had to write things down just like I do," the little girl said with a smile.
Kelsi is in her second year with the Young Americans 4-H club. She shows rabbits and enters her ceramic projects at the fair, she said proudly. Getting a 4-H book from so long ago was something she never expected.
The 4-H book belonged to Shirley Lewis. Her name and birth date were written on the front of the book. It was found about two weeks ago behind the bathroom wall in Kelli Babler's house during some remodeling work.
Shirley Lewis, who is now Shirley Kummer, lives in Monticello. She said the bathroom used to be a closet and it was there that she kept her book.
The book, which was written in 1949 and 1950, is in remarkably good shape for having been lost for more than half a century. Kummer's record sheet of her parent's farm inspection and her report about her cooking project are easily readable. The words were carefully written.
Kummer completed the book when she was 10 years old - the same age as Kelsi.
"This is really neat," Kelsi said, leafing through the green book carefully so as to not to rip any pages.
Kelsi pointed out that the pledge from 50 years ago was almost the same as today's pledge. The words "and my world" were added in the 1960s, Kelli Babler said. Otherwise, the pledge is the same.
Kummer, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lewis, said she grew up on a farm and was in 4-H for a few years. She had forgotten about her book until Jayne Butts from the University of Wisconsin-Extension office called and told her someone found it.
"I was surprised when I heard they found my book," she said.
Chad Trimble was remodeling the bathroom a couple of weeks ago when he found the book behind the wall.
"I saw it was old paper and thought it was money," he joked. "I decided to give it to Kelsi."
Kelli Babler said they'll give the book back to Kummer, but first it will be displayed at the Green County Fair for people to see. The fair is July 21-25 in Monroe.