Swanson Honored for Work with Fair in LaPorte
Published: Friday, October 2, 2020
Not once did a lifelong farmer seek a dime for the countless number of hours he spent overseeing major improvements at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds.
Keith Swanson, 69, of Hanna, wouldn't have it any other way.
Swanson is one of 24 recipients of this year's Golden Hoosier Award, presented annually by the Indiana Family and Social Service Administration's Division of Aging to senior citizens giving time for making life better in their communities.
"These unsung leaders make positive impacts on the lives of others and improve the overall well-being of our state. Thank you for all your service and answering the call to give back," said Indiana Lieut. Gov. Suzanne Crouch during a Sept. 23 virtual ceremony from the Statehouse.
Swanson was nominated by the LaPorte County Agricultural Assn. for his leadership in the major work performed the past three years at the fairgrounds along S.R. 2 outside LaPorte.
The projects included extension of municipal water and sewer service, upgrading an old, unsafe electrical system and construction of a new cattle barn.
He also left his signature on new bathrooms at the fairgrounds and upgraded showers at the campground at the fairgrounds.
"It's a nice award for recognizing older people in the community that have stepped up and given something back," Swanson said.
For the past nine years, Swanson has served on the board of the LCAA, which operates the LaPorte County Fair.
He's also a board member with the Fair Management and Events Corp. formed in recent years to manage the property and schedule events at the fairgrounds year-round.
LaPorte County Commissioner Rich Mrozinski, who's also a member of the LCAA, said Swanson also made sure all of the work at the fairgrounds was done correctly.
"Keith just kind of like man-handled the whole project. We really owe him a heck of a lot for all of the things he's managed to accomplish out there," he said.
Swanson also does a lot of volunteer work for the Union Mills Conservation Club, which maintains Mill Pond Park in the unincorporated town about eight miles south and west of LaPorte.
Swanson, who grew up on a farm near Union Mills, has about 20 head of beef cattle at his 170-acre farm on 600 West near Hanna, where he also raises mostly corn and soybeans.
He's been involved with the LaPorte County Fair since 1961, when he began exhibiting sheep during his years in 4-H.
His children and grandchildren were also 4-H members.
Swanson said he began volunteering more after selling Heartland Dairy Equipment to a company from Sweden in 2005.
He was asked to serve on the LCAA because of his expertise in areas like plumbing and electric at a time when serious talk began on addressing major needs at the fairgrounds.
Swanson said he considers his time overseeing the improvements as an investment in the future.
"It was all for the kids in this county. Four-H is a very, very good project for kids," he said.
A total of $375,000 was approved by the LaPorte County Council for the improvements at the fairgrounds, but the cost would have been higher if not for Swanson and others, perhaps, donating their labor.
Swanson also worked closely with elected officials on things like obtaining cost estimates and developing budgets for all of the jobs.
"We do have a lot of older people with a lot of knowledge and they're willing to give that knowledge back to the communities to help them prosper and save them a lot of money," he said.
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