Breakiron family completing 52 years of 4-H at Fayette County Fair
The Breakiron family is completing 52 consecutive years of participating in 4-H livestock shows this year at the Fayette County Fair in Dunbar Township. Wendell Breakiron, of Hopwood, center, started his four children in 4-H in 1966 and several of his grandchildren followed. The family finishes this year as Wendell's granddaughter Toni Marie DeCarlo, of New Salem, completes her time in 4-H. Pictured are (from left) Charlotte DeCarlo, of New Salem, Randy Breakiron, of Hopwood, Toni Marie, Wendell Breakiron, Tony DeCarlo and Brandon Bryner of Normalville, who is breeder for Toni Marie's pig in the foreground. Toni Marie also shows a 4-H market steer and participates in the 4-H Livestock Auction. Wendell, 83, said, “It’s just like it started yesterday.''
Randy Breakiron, left, sits with his father, Wendell Breakiron, both of Hopwood, in the Indoor Arena during 4-H Market Swine competition at the Fayette County Fair. Toni Marie DeCarlo, of New Salem, who is Wendell's granddaughter and Randy's niece, was participating in the competition and is completing her final year of 4-H. Altogether, the Breakiron family has participated in 4-H livestock shows at the fair for 52 consecutive years. Randy said, “Dad was always there and that’s why he’s here tonight.''
Toni Marie DeCarlo, and her mother, Charlotte DeCarlo, of New Salem, pose for a photo in the barn during Toni Marie's final 4-H market swine competition at the Fayette County Fair. Toni Marie, who also shows a market steer, is completing 4-H this year, finishing a 52 consecutive years of participating in 4-H livestock shows for the Breakiron family.
Charlotte DeCarlo, of New Salem, takes photos of her daughter, Toni Marie, competing in the 4-H market swine show at the Fayette County Fair. Toni Marie is completing 4-H, ending 52 consecutive years of participating in 4-H livestock shows by the Breakiron family. Charlotte's father Wendell Breakiron, of Hopwood, started his four children in 4-H in 1966 and four grandchildren followed. Charlotte said, "I've cried all week. This truly has been our life.''
Toni Marie DeCarlo, left, of New Salem, talks with her uncle Randy Breakiron, right, of Hopwood, just before going into the ring at the Indoor Arena for the showmanship competition of the 4-H market swine show at the Fayette County Fair. Toni Marie is completing 4-H, ending 52 consecutive years of 4-H livestock shows for the Breakiron family. Randy's father Wendell Breakiron, of Hopwood, started his four children in 4-H in 1966 and four grandchildren followed. Randy said, "When I started, there was eight or 10 in the pig club. Now there’s about 130.’’
Charlotte and Tony DeCarlo, center, of New Salem wait to watch their daughter, Toni Marie, compete in showmanship during the 4-H market swine show at the Fayette County Fair. Toni Marie is completing 4-H, ending 52 consecutive years of 4-H livestock shows for the Breakiron family. Charlotte's father Wendell Breakiron, of Hopwood, started his four children in 4-H in 1966 and four grandchildren followed. Charlotte said, "It's something to be proud of.''
Wendell Breakiron, left, and his son, Randy Breakiron, both of Hopwood, prepare to watch Wendell's granddaughter and Randy's niece Toni Marie DeCarlo, of New Salem, enter the ring at the 4-H market swine competition at the Fayette County Fair. Toni Marie is completing 4-H, ending 52 consecutive years of 4-H livestock shows for the Breakiron family. Wendell Breakiron started his four children in 4-H in 1966 and four grandchildren followed. Randy said, "Dad was always there and that’s why he’s here tonight.''
Toni Marie DeCarlo, of New Salem, center in yellow shirt, participates in showmanship competition during the 4-H market swine show at the Fayette County Fair. Toni Marie is completing 4-H, ending 52 consecutive years of 4-H livestock shows for the Breakiron family. Her grandfather Wendell Breakiron, of Hopwood, started his four children in 4-H in 1966 and four grandchildren followed. Toni Marie also showed a 4-H market steer and is participating in the 4-H Livestock Auction.
Toni Marie DeCarlo, of New Salem, participates in showmanship competition during the 4-H market swine show at the Fayette County Fair. Toni Marie is completing 4-H, ending 52 years of 4-H livestock shows for the Breakiron family. Her grandfather Wendell Breakiron, of Hopwood, started his four children in 4-H in 1966 and four grandchildren followed. Toni Marie also showed a 4-H market steer and is participating in the 4-H Livestock Auction.
Toni Marie DeCarlo, of New Salem, in yellow shirt, waits to participate in showmanship competition during the 4-H market swine show at the Fayette County Fair. Toni Marie is completing 4-H, ending 52 years of 4-H livestock shows for the Breakiron family. Her grandfather Wendell Breakiron, of Hopwood, started his four children in 4-H in 1966 and four grandchildren followed. Toni Marie also showed a 4-H market steer and is participating in the 4-H Livestock Auction. “It’s good – the memories and the friends,’’ Toni Marie said of 4-H.
For 52 consecutive years, Wendell Breakiron of Hopwood has been sitting in the stands at the Fayette County Fair in Dunbar Township, watching his children and then grandchildren compete in 4-H livestock shows.
That comes to an end this week as his granddaughter Toni Marie DeCarlo, 18, of New Salem, completes her final year in 4-H.
“It’s just like it started yesterday,” said Wendell, 83, noting the last 52 years have been “exceptionally good.”
It’s a bittersweet moment for the family, who continue to be an integral part of the fair.
“I’ve cried all week,” said Charlotte DeCarlo, Wendell’s daughter and Toni Marie’s mother. “This truly has been my life.”
The Breakiron family is a believer in 4-H, which the national website notes is America’s largest youth development organization, delivered by Cooperative Extension through a community of 100 public universities that reach 6 million youths across the country.
In Fayette County, 4-H works through Penn State Extension. This year, about 440 youths belong to 24 traditional 4-H clubs in Fayette County and more than 3,200 Fayette County students participated in school-based projects, such as embryology, health, geocaching and water conservation.
“It keeps you busy,” said Wendell. “It’s good for the kids.”
Wendell and his late wife Garnet, who passed away in 2009, operated the Farmers Feed and Supply in Hopwood for 26 years. Wendell also maintains a farm, coming from a long line of farmers.
Charlotte credits her father with introducing his children to 4-H. In birth order, they include Cindy Geller, now living in Lexington Park, Maryland; Randy Breakiron of Hopwood; Charlotte and then Laura Rockwell of Uniontown.
The Breakiron children were spread out in age: Cindy and Randy showed first and then Charlotte and Laura. The family continued in 4-H with Randy’s children: Randi, Heath and Kelsey, and Charlotte’s daughter.
“We all showed pigs and steers,” said Charlotte, later noting Randy’s children also showed lambs.
A swine club leader, Charlotte talked in the Pig Barn the night of the 4-H Market Swine Show. She held a pink program to keep track of the classes and make sure youths were headed to the Indoor Arena when it was their turn in the ring. A loudspeaker in the barn kept her informed of classes and placings for youths.
Wendell and Randy kept track as they watched in the stands, waiting for Toni Marie’s turn and talking to friends who came over to greet them.
Randy remembered, “It was 1966 when I started to show in 4-H. When I started, there was eight or 10 in the pig club. Now there’s about 130.”
Randy spoke of the attributes that 4-H teaches: leadership and hard work. He talked about the friends he’s made through the years, both in Fayette County and in state shows in Harrisburg.
“Dad was always there and that’s why he’s here tonight,” said Randy. “Toni Marie will finish up 52 continuous years of showing.”
When Toni Marie headed to the Indoor Arena for her class, Charlotte followed and took photographs from the sideline, watching with her husband, Tony, also a swine club leader. Toni Marie placed first in her class and was called back for the showmanship competition for swine.
Wendell and Randy were on the floor near Toni Marie to check on her before she went into the ring and talk to other 4-H youths and friends as well.
By the end of the night, Toni Marie had received hugs and good wishes from family and friends who realized this was her last 4-H swine show. She would compete in the 4-H market steer competition the next night and will be ready for the 4-H Livestock Auction near the end of the fair.
“It’s good – the memories and the friends,” said Toni Marie, who’s participated in 4-H for 11 years.
Toni Marie and Charlotte talked about the shows, sleeping in the barns and friends they’ve made through the years.
The Breakiron family has long been involved in the fair.
Wendell was a fair board director for many years, president of the 4-H Extension board and president of the 4-H advisory committee. Randy is a member of the fair board, in charge of the fair’s rodeo and is a former 4-H market swine leader. Charlotte also chairs the fair queen committee and is on the fair’s entertainment committee.
Toni Marie, a 2017 graduate of Geibel Catholic High School in Connellsville who is studying to be a veterinary technician at Penn Foster, is also involved in three rodeo associations as a barrel racer. She competes in the rodeo at the Fayette County Fair.
“The best summers of our lives have been spent at this fair,” said Charlotte, “and the best friends.”
So they’ll be at the fair for many years to come, but as the Breakiron family reaches this milestone, they look back fondly on 4-H and the last 52 years of livestock shows.
Charlotte noted, “It’s something to be proud of.”