The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
JUNIOR FAIR HONORS 4-H VOLUNTEER
The late Vic Long leaves 45-year legacy of encouraging youth with projects
The first full day of action at the 175th edition of the Lorain County Fair on Aug. 23 welcomed back the community to take in the sights, sounds and treats while honoring a longtime 4-H volunteer.
The late Vic Long was honored by Noah Clegg, a member of the Lorain County Junior Fair Board
at a 2021 4-H and Future Farmers of America
Awards ceremony with a plaque given to his family.
Long was inducted into the Ohio 4-H Hall of Fame in 2020 for his 45 years of involvement in 4-H education and programming.
He was set to be honored at the Lorain County Fair in 2020 but the event was postponed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, and Long died in September 2020 at the age of 88 following a brief illness.
“The impact that (Vic Long) had on the youth of Lorain County will remain forever.” — Noah Clegg
Long began his involvement through his 30-year association with the Lorain County Steer Club and eventually became a part of the sheep department at the Lorain County Fair. He raised lambs for 4-H youth participants at Hickory Bark Farm in LaGrange.
Clegg said Long was a constant presence and always would do whatever he could to help 4-H youth, holding clinics and making home visits. He could be found around the sheep barn and serving as a ringmaster every year for the sheep show.
“The fair and the youth was near and dear to Vic. Vic’s family knew that he never planned anything for fair week. Vic was a staple and will be dearly missed. The impact that he had on the youth of Lorain County will remain forever,” Clegg added.
Long’s daughter Patti Grieve accepted the award on behalf of the family and, fighting back tears, said her dad was overwhelmed when he learned of the honor and he always just wanted to help the youth in any way he could.
“We know that they really know that he’s looking down here and just beaming with pride,” Grieve said. “And so we thank you and we’re so glad that his honor is going to continue in his legacy with everyone that ever knew dad. So from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you so, so much.”
Throughout the week the plaque honoring Long will be outside of the junior fair office along with those of all of the other 4-H Hall of Fame inductees.
In Long’s biography, he was credited for always lending a hand to youth taking steers and lambs, holding clinics assisting with tagging, with many of the youth he worked with attending college to pursue careers in agriculture.
“There is no doubt Vic’s passion for 4-H had positive influence on these youth, who are now adults and continue to promote 4-H.”
Long was also presented posthumously with the Clair Hill Award on Aug. 22 during the opening ceremonies of the Lorain County Fair.