Bill and Karen Jessop to be this year’s Elkhart County 4-H Fair parade marshals

Bill and Karen Jessop are both excited to be the parade marshals for this year’s Elkhart County 4-H Parade.

“It will be fun to get a different perspective,” said Karen. The couple usually watch the parade uptown with their family.

Each year, the two enjoy watching the parade go through downtown Goshen with the different clubs, floats and marching bands. The two were both 10-year 4-H members. They are also the parents of Fred Jessop, this year’s fair board president.

Growing up, Bill got involved after having brothers involved in 4-H. He had the grand champion steer in the 1962 Elkhart County Fair. It was the first year the cattle show was in the show arena, which is now the Home and Family Arts Building.

When their children were old enough, Bill and Karen enrolled their children in 4-H. They said the changes at the fair were so gradual over the years; they said the one big change is the size of the fair. His first year he did gardening.

“When I saw the cattle, that was the last year for gardening. Then I started with beef,” Bill said.

When Bill was a member, he started showing cattle at Rice Field in Elkhart his first few years in 4-H and there were just tents for the animals.

They are also looking forward to visiting the different food stands.

“You can eat anything you want,” Bill said.