Jerry and Marsha Slepicka were both born in Boulder Colorado. Both graduated from Boulder High School and now live in log cabin in Niwot.   Growing up Jerry was a boy scout and Marsha shot competitive rifle – their involvement in the Boulder County Fair was limited to looking at all the exhibits, but nothing more.  

Then in 1996 they purchased a 1946 John Deere tractor from Harvey Nelson, with the stipulation that they bring it to the Fair’s Yester Years Show.  That one tractor was a springboard for more tractor purchases and restorations - all of which were brought to the Fair. 

For many years, Jerry loaded up 5-6 tractors to drive in the Boulder County Fair Parade, ending his parade route at the Fairgrounds.  Then in 2001 the Slepicka families’ involvement in the Fair would take a major turn.  During a break in the Yester Years Show, the family (which now included daughter Vanessa and twins Brandon & Jessie) went to the 4-H Dairy Bar for milkshakes.  It was there that they saw a lady holding a clip board with the “Niwot Nifites Dairy Bar Schedule” When they asked “What’s a Niwot Nifities” everything changed.  They met Patty Strecker, the Organizational Leader of the Niwot Nifites 4-H Club.  Within 3 weeks the family had joined 4-H and Vanessa was asking her parents if she could show a sheep at the next year’s fair.

Three years later, Marsha & Jerry had become the new Organizational Leaders of the Niwot Nifites 4-H Club, Jerry was serving on Youth Council and Leaders Council, Marsha began volunteering for the 4-H Carnival, Military Mail, Operation Easter Bunny, and the 4-H Foundation.  In 2007 Jerry joined the Boulder County Fairboard, first as a 4-H representative, then moving to Treasurer and now currently serves as Vice President.  Jerry also serves as the Superintendent of Mechanical Sciences and Woodworking, and helps with the Product Sale held during the Fair.

Fair is their two week vacation – it’s a family affair.  Preparing for the Fair is a year round commitment.  Enrollment in 4-H begins in October where the three kids select projects.  These range from Creative Arts projects to chickens.  One year the kids entered over 30 projects. 
Vanessa, currently a sophomore at the University of Northern Colorado studying to become an elementary teacher, has shown at the Boulder County Fair since 2002.  She started with sheep and expanded to chickens, breads, cookies, writing, photography, flower arrangement, jewelry, heritage arts, holiday decorations, stenciling, and scrap booking.  She has won Champion, Reserve Champion, Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion in many categories at the Boulder County Fair.  At the Colorado State Fair she has been awarded Reserve Grand Champion in Heritage Arts, and Grand Champion in Breads.   In 2009 she won the Best of Show – Grand Champion Chicken and in 2010 Vanessa was awarded the 4-H Outstanding Senior Member award through 4-H.

Brandon, who will be a sophomore at Niwot High School in the Fall, began showing at the Fair in 2004 as a “Cloverbud”, meaning he was eligible to show one item through 4-H, but not able to compete.  In 2005 he became a “regular” 4-H member and has completed projects in tractor safety, chickens, sheep, scrap craft, holiday decoration, etching, home environment, modelcraft, and cookies.  He even restored a 1934 tractor.  Brandon has won the Champion or Reserve Champion Chicken Meat pen since 2005.  He has also completed in the Round Robin competition several times at the Boulder County Fair.  In 2007 Brandon was awarded the 4-H Junior Outstanding Member award through 4-H.

Jessie, who will also be a sophomore at Niwot High School, has shown projects in the Boulder County Fair since 2004 as a Cloverbud, moving to a regular 4-H member in 2005 and showing a variety of project which includes:  cakes, chickens, sheep, candles, flower arrangement, food preservation, tole painting, baking, electricity, and pies.  In 2006 he won Grand Champion for food preservation at the Colorado State Fair and was recognized by Sen. Brandon Shaffer at the State Capital.  Jessie has won Champion or Reserve Champion egg production from 2005 to 2008 and was the first winner of the IHOP Eggs & Bacon Award in 2006, which he won again in 2007.  Jessie has also completed in the Round Robin competition several times at the Boulder County Fair.

  In 2008 Jessie was awarded the 4-H Junior Outstanding Member award through 4-H.

Photo Courtesy of Don Oberbeck

It seems like Boulder County Fair has always been a part of our lives, but I think the first time we actually attended the Fair was in the mid-80’s. When our daughter Catherine (Cat) was about seven years old, we went to the Old Timers Rodeo at the Fair. That’s when Cat saw the Boulder County Fair Rodeo Queen and said (prophetically): “That’s what I want to do when I grow up!”

Soon after that, Cat joined a 4-H club in the horse project, and Mike and I discovered what it meant to be 4-H parents. Along with working at horse shows during the year, we helped out at the Fair horse show wherever we were needed – in the office, working the gate, announcing and running errands.

Somewhere along the line, both Mike and I became 4-H leaders which meant that we attended Horse Leaders Council meetings and the occasional Fair Board meetings. We also attended Fairgrounds planning meetings where we learned about all the conflicting demands on the fairgrounds resources.

In 1994 and 1995, I was elected president of Horse Leaders Council, which meant that I automatically became the horse superintendent for Fair. The first year I swore I wouldn’t do it again, but by the end of that year I had changed my mind and decided to continue on for a second year. The first year was definitely more difficult as I had a lot to learn!

In 1996-97, Mike became a member of Fair Board as an elected representative of 4-H.

In 1997, Cat (our daughter) tried out for the Boulder County Fair Lady-In-Waiting position and was selected from all the candidates. She served as the Lady-In-Waiting in 1997-98 and the Queen in 1998-99. Mike and I were actively involved as driver, photographer, chaperones, advisors and cheerleaders both years that Cat was involved. Once more, we found that we learned more and more about the Fair and the efforts that go into making it run, and we continued to fill in where we were needed.

For about 10 years now Mike has been the 4-H photography superindent for Fair. He is an avid photographer, and he loves sharing his passion for photography with all of the 4-H members who are enrolled in the project. He spends hours on the phone answering questions about the project with project members and more hours on the phone with State Extension staff asking questions about the project. He also holds a workshop almost every year so that parents, leaders and project members are well-informed about the special requirements for the various project units.

Both Mike and I have participated in County Fair as exhibitors. Both of us and Cat have entered photos in the open photography division, where we all have to compete in the advanced division because of our successes! I have also entered items in Counted Stitchery, Arts and Crafts, Rugs and Paper Crafts. For the past few years I have concentrated on the Crocheted Division, where I enter as many items as I can finish by the entry date.

For several years, I was the station manager for the horse division of Round Robin. This involved making sure that there were enough horses available for the station, that they were correctly designated and that they were safe for the competitors.

Since 2002, soon after I started coaching the Boulder County Hippology Team, I have been writing written tests for the Fair Horse Show. In addition to writing the tests, I administer the tests to the horse project members and co-ordinate the scoring and grading of the tests. It’s a task I really enjoy and a challenge to come up with new tests every year!

Mike and I attended the Junior Market Sale every year for many years. We liked to see all the 4-H livestock members showing their market animals, and we liked to see the support the kids received from the community. It took several years of watching before Mike decided that we should be purchasing at the sale, too! Finally, he signed us up, and for the past five or six years we have bought at least one lamb or pig (or both) at the sale. Then last year we joined a consortium with three other couples to purchase a steer to be donated to Meals on Wheels.

My latest venture has been as the Royalty Co-ordinator for the Fair Royalty. I share this position with Karen Buchanan, where we work closely as the liaisons between the Fair Board representatives and the Queen and Lady-In-Waiting.

Mike and I feel very honored to have been chosen the 2011 Family of the Year. We are both enthusiastic supporters of the Fair and hope to continue our involvement for many years.