Fair time a favorite of 2020 grand marshals

The end of July is always a special time of the year for Gale and Pat Wiebers because summertime means fair time for this Holyoke couple.

This year’s fair is even more special because the Wieberses have been named the grand marshals of the Phillips County Fair parade. The two will lead the parade down Holyoke’s Interocean Avenue Saturday, July 25, at 10 a.m.

With a bull riding and livestock background of his own, it’s no surprise that Gale’s favorite parts of the fair are the Thursday night ranch rodeo event and Bulls Gone Wild! on Saturday.

Pat, on the other hand, loves the fair because it’s a chance to look at all the exhibits and connect with old friends and acquaintances. “It’s a nice way to wrap up the summer,” she said.

In addition to all the events and competitions the Phillips County Fair offers, the Wieberses also gave credit to the wonderful facilities — including the new Bank of Colorado Pavilion and the Phillips County Event Center — for drawing people in to the annual event.

The fairgrounds will be bustling with activities Tuesday-Sunday, July 21-26.

Gale shows grand champion bull

Gale’s family has a long history in northeast Colorado. His grandparents homesteaded and farmed south of Fleming in the New Haven area. Gale’s parents, Lloyd and Cecil, made their home southeast of Fleming in the Rockland community where they farmed and ranched.

Lloyd and Cecil started the Rock Haven 4-H Club and were active leaders for over 20 years. All 11 of the Wiebers kids got the chance to experience the many benefits of 4-H.

Gale showed sheep, dairy cattle and breeding cattle at the Logan County Fair. A couple high points for him included a grand champion sheep as well as a grand champion Hereford bull, which went on to win the Colorado State Fair and National Western Stock Show.

At Fleming High School, Gale participated in FFA and sports before graduating in 1963.

Following school, he entered the professional rodeo circuit where he rode bulls for four years. He even won the Nationals Finals Rodeo both years he competed at the prestigious event in Oklahoma City.

Gale’s career in truck driving included delivering bulk milk for Western Dairy. He was also a member of the Old Threshers Club and an FFA advisory council member while living in Yuma.

Pat thrives in sewing, music projects

Pat has fond memories of going to the fair where she grew up in Bridgeport, Nebraska. Her mother was raised in Denver while her father’s family homesteaded in the sandhills near Alliance, Nebraska.

In addition to Girl Scouts, Pat participated in 4-H as a young girl. She enjoyed sewing projects as well as leadership programs.

With the help of 4-H and Pat’s grandmother, who was a professional dress maker, Pat’s love of sewing continues to today. She not only sews for fun but also uses the skill to make gifts, create theater costumes and contribute to good causes, like Sew Caring.

In high school, Pat stayed busy with everything from honor society and theater to pep club and music. She began playing clarinet in the fifth grade and later learned tenor saxophone and piano.

Her first job was cleaning telephone booths for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company.

After graduating from Bridgeport High School in 1973, Pat pursued a degree in music education. She took classes at Metro State University in Denver and ultimately graduated from Chadron State College in 1980. Later in life, she earned a master’s degree in curriculum.

Pat’s most notable band/choir teaching roles were 15 years in Yuma and 11 years in Holyoke.

Holyoke move gets couple involved in Phillips County

Gale and Pat were married in 1998, and a move to Holyoke in 1999 started their involvement in many different Phillips County activities.

Gale worked in maintenance for the Holyoke schools for two years before serving as the maintenance supervisor for Phillips County, where he worked until retiring in 2010. During this time he certainly got to know the courthouse and fairgrounds facilities well.

Gale was on the steering committee for the construction of both the Phillips County Event Center and the Bank of Colorado Pavilion at the fairgrounds. He also served on the Phillips County Fair board for eight years, was the horse superintendent for one year and has volunteered his time maintaining the fairgrounds arena during the fair for many years.

Gale organized and put on a Colorado Junior Rodeo Association rodeo in Holyoke for five years. He could also be seen at area tractor pulling competitions with his Oliver 88 tractor and other antique machines.

Following Pat’s years in the Holyoke band/choir room, she was a substitute teacher for nine years. She is currently a middle school language arts teacher in Haxtun and a musical director/pianist in Holyoke in addition to her role as president on the Holyoke School District Board of Education. “It’s a way I can give back to the community,” Pat said.

But that’s not the only way she gives back. Pat has been an active volunteer at the Phillips County Fair for many years, including serving as the crafts and needlework superintendent, organizing talent shows and working in the food booth to fundraise for the event center.

In what spare time she has left, Pat enjoys reading and cooking and, of course, sewing and music.

The Wieberses have three adult children. Justin was involved in 4-H and FFA during his youth and later served as the national 4-H president before becoming an Extension agent in Tennessee and Kansas. His four children are also involved in 4-H. Faith resides in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and is executive director of Panhandle Partnership. Hope also works in Scottsbluff as a registered nurse and has two daughters, Demi and Morgan.