Jeff Styczynski is no stranger to the Shawano County Fair.
In fact, this year marked his 50th year of being involved with the Labor Day tradition.
He grew up like other youngsters, showing animals at the fair and even traveling to the Wisconsin State Fair to do so. Styczynski joined fair committees, served nine years on the fair board and is superintendent of the Dairy Show (junior show and open class).
“Our incentive is to get the next generation interested in it, excited about it,” he said. “The dairy industry does struggle with the next generation being able to take over.”
He and his wife lend out their animals to children to show.
“We have to be open and reach out to these kids, because a lot of times, there’s intimidation,” Styczynski said. “When you can show them what can be achieved, and the environment of dairy men and women, it’s a family. Coming back to the Shawano County Fair is almost like a traditional family reunion.”
Styczynski grew up on a dairy farm and bought his first animal at age 12. This year, his 5-year-old granddaughter, Breilla, showed a calf in the Dairy Pee Wee Showmanship Class. The two of them teamed up to show a purebred heifer in another class.
He is not worried about her being around the large animals.
“It can happen to anyone of us as an adult,” he said. “We can get kicked or pushed, but we do tell them the hazards, what they have to do and to be prepared for what they should do when they enter by an animal.”
Styczynski said children are like a sponge and eagerly listen and learn.
“Having them involved on a daily basis being amongst animals … it seems like they have that knowledge of knowing when something might be little bit dangerous, they back off,” he said.
Children who grow up around the animals see them as normal — to be respected but not feared.
“My fulfillment is seeing the smile on the kids’ faces and the achievement of whatever ribbon they may get and the memoirs we can make for them for a lifetime,” Styczynski said.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
