Brink inducted into fair's Hall of Fame

(Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) Darwin Brink, who exhibited at the Plymouth County Fair at the age of 10 as a member of the Merrill Blue Ribbon Club, and later brought his Percheron horses to give rides around the fair, was inducted into the Plymouth County Fair Hall of Fame Wednesday evening. [Click to enlarge]

The 2009 Plymouth County Fair Hall of Fame inductee grew up east of Merrill and has a long history with the Plymouth County Fair.

Darwin Brink, now of Bronson, Iowa, received the honor Wednesday prior to the crowning of fair royalty.

"Darwin has been walking or riding the Plymouth County fairgrounds for the past 70 years," said fair board president Terry Reuter.

Growing up on a farm east of Merrill, 4-H was a family affair, Reuter said.

In 1947, Brink's mother Tena Brink along with Mrs. Raymond Becker organized the girls club, Plymouth Peppers, in Plymouth and Stanton townships.

Brink's sister Carol, was a charter member. Brink and his younger brother, Bob, were members of the Merrill Blue Ribbon club.

At that time, Reuter, said, townships had separate boys and girls clubs; if a girl wanted to exhibit livestock, she had to belong to both clubs.

Young people could remain in 4-H until the age of 21, which Brink did.

Brink began his 4-H career in 1939 at 10, showing hogs and horses at the Merrill Agriculture Days as a member of the Merrill Blue Ribbon Club.

"In the fall of 1940, after outgrowing the fair quarters in Merrill, the Plymouth County 4-H and Agriculture Society was formed," Reuter said. "They purchased 20 acres of land and moved to the site of our present day fair."

Money was needed to help pay for the land and build the first permanent building. Brink, his good friend Rich Kalas, and fellow 4-H members sold foot-long pencils for $1, often pedaling their bikes to neighbors to make a sale.

With the success of the campaign, the building known today as the sheep barn was constructed in the summer of 1941 by club members and their fathers.

"Darwin and his dad, Neal, helped to shingle the roof," Reuter said.

The fair office was located just inside the building, and the first six pens held sheep, the next six pens held dairy cows, and the north end of the barn was for hogs.

"I'm sure that young boy never imagined that building would someday hold the sheep projects of his grandchildren," Reuter said. "We owe a debt of gratitude to those 4-H members, their parents, and a fair board who had a vision of what has become our great fair today."

As club members grew, so did the number of projects. Buildings were added, often serving dual purposes.

Brink continued his 4-H success.

In 1949, he showed the Grand Champion and Reserved Champion Market Barrow and took home Grand Champion Showmanship honors.

Later that summer at the Interstate Fair in Sioux City, he also brought home Reserve Market Barrow and Reserve Showmanship ribbons.

"Darwin didn't just have a good eye for livestock, he also noticed a cute brunette from the lowest 4-H club," Reuter said.

In 1942, Brink and Norma Bliss of Westfield were married. Soon they were bringing their three little girls to the fair.

Their children grew up to become members of the Washington Wildcats and Washington Workers 4-H clubs, exhibiting dairy heifers and home economics projects.

"Darwin and Norma continued to visit the fair each year, viewing livestock, checking out the new machinery, visiting with neighbors and renewing old friendships over pie and coffee in the 4-H foodstand," said Reuter.

The summer of 1988 brought them back to the show ring (this time covered), to watch grandson Chad show lambs at his first sheep show. They would return for the next 17 years to watch grandchildren Brandon, Ryan and Tami exhibit beef cattle, dairy heifers and sheep.

Brink has always had a great love for horses, and in the early 1980s approached the fair board and was given permission to bring his team of black Percheron horses and a show wagon to give rides around the fairgrounds.

In 1992, when the fair celebrated its 50th anniversary, Brink entered the parade with his team of horses. Riding in the wagon were his former Merrill Blue Ribbon Club members.

His team has also escorted the fair queen and her court around the grandstand after coronation.

Today, Brink and Norma are retired and live outside Bronson. He continues to be a 4-H grandpa, helping his youngest grandchildren prepare for the Woodbury County Fair, just as he did his son, David.

"If you see Darwin tonight, give a wave, or sit down and visit," said Reuter at the induction Wednesday. "You'll probably find him at the 4-H food stand having pie and coffee with his old friends, Rich or Doc Conley."

The Brinks have four children, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He still has draft horses.

"I use them every day at home to plant, mow, rake hay and more," he said.

Brink also brought his team of horses to the fair Saturday and Sunday, once again giving rides around the fairgrounds and reliving his 4-H memories.

Brink credits 4-H with giving him a variety of experiences.

"4-H was a cheap college education," Brink said. "It taught me a lot."