Cleo Hartzler
Leadership by Example
by Harold D. Gingerich
Everybody loves a parade.
of people like him that young people in
this county have the privilege of parKids, scrambling along the parade
ticipating in 4-H. Cleo’s faithfulness
route eagerly scooping up the har- and leadership is a shining example of
what every 4-H leader hopes will be invest of candy being thrown from
stilled in the heart of the young person
the floats, may look and wave and
they have in club.
wonder, “Who’s that old man and
Not only did Hartzler complete five
why is he leading the parade?”
years of 4-H, his children Kent and DiIf anyone deserves the honor of
ane were 4-H’ers, and today his grandbeing named Grand Marshal for the
daughter, Brooke Harvell, who excelled
2013 LaGrange County 4-H Fair Parade as a high school 4-H’er, is a member of
it would be Cleo Hartzler. It’s because
the Elkhart County Fair Board.
pg 14 · The Hometown Treasure · July ‘13
Edgar Franklin, Ag teacher at
Topeka and early pioneer of 4-H Clubs,
convinced Hartzler to join 4-H as a
Topeka High School freshman. As a
sophomore, Cleo teamed up with Merv
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