by Denise Massie
Pat Fry never saw it coming.
After working registration for the dog competition at the Indiana State Fair as she normally does, Fry went to sit back and relax while awards were handed out.
Before the awards show started, Fry said the announcer started out by telling the crowd someone was going to be honored.
“It came over the loudspeaker,” Fry said. “He announced, ‘Before we give out awards, we want to give a special award to one of our board members.’”
Fry first wondered who they were going to honor. As the speech went on and the person was described, Fry began to wonder.
“It can’t be,” she remember thinking. “I had no idea it was going to be me.”
But it was.
After 46 years of dedication and service to the 4-H Fair’s dog program, Fry was honored on the last Saturday of the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis.
Her award was a “Lifetime Pass” for the Indiana State Fair.
“It was complete surprise to me,” she said. “It shocked me.”
Fry was sure her mouth had to have dropped open in surprise when her name was announced.
The announcement was also made in front of everyone involved with the dog competition at the State Fair. Fry said more than 500 dogs were present with their owners, families and friends.
Lynn Korniak, Cass County 4-H youth Extension educator, said she was contacted before the show and asked to help with a write-up about Fry’s years of service.
When Korniak was contacted, she said all she knew was Fry was going to be honored, but didn’t know with what award.
She was happy to know Fry received the lifetime pass.
“I know they are pretty select with who they give it to,” Korniak said. “I think that it’s really neat. They could have just given her a plaque, but instead gave her something she can use.”
The pass will allow Fry to enter the fair at any time without having to pay.
“We’re so proud a local volunteer was recognized with the prestigious award,” Korniak said. “It’s a great reflection on the Cass County 4-H Association.”
Fry has served as leader of the Cass County Tailwaggers Dog Club since it was created.
“When it first started, it was a project for the county fair,” she explained. “Many of them now have been made into club, which means we have to have club meetings and training sessions.”
Fry has spent her years helping children take the family dog and train it to be more enjoyable and more companionable.
She leads the children to train in obedience and showmanship.
The children enjoy it, mainly because they get to tell someone else what to do rather than being told what to do, Fry said.
This year, 43 children participated in the club. Fry said it seems to be growing larger each year.
Although she never kept track of how many children and dogs she helped train over the years, the numbers are pretty high.
Fry said she stuck around as the leader of the group because she likes working with dogs and she couldn’t find anyone else interested in taking on the program.
Her role as leader all began when she met with Dick Rusk, who was previously associated with the Cass County Fair.
Fry said her daughter told her about a new program that was starting, so the two went to check it out. At the time Fry was already raising and training border collies.
When Fry met with Rusk, she said he told her “You’re just the person we need.”
“I told him ‘Look what you started,’” she said. “Now he is retired and I’m still going.”
She never imagined leading the dog club in Cass County for 46 years. She said it was just one of those things where she simply thought she would do it for just one more year.
Fry has no plans on retiring any time soon.
“Oh, I will stay with them,” she said. “That’s what keeps me going is the club.”
Whether she is the leader of the club or simply serving on the advisory board, Fry would like to stay connected to the dog committee as long as she can.
For now, Fry plans on enjoying the recognition for as long as she can.
“It was quite a shock and quite an honor,” she said. “I have been on cloud nine since and haven’t come back down.”
• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at (574) 732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com
