MONROE — Sharon Olsen always keeps busy. But come fair time, she really has her hands full.
The Snohomish woman is the 4-H dog program superintendent. She is also this year’s Evergreen State Fair honoree, a title she earned for her 27 years of working with the dog program.
All superintendents are volunteers. During the fair, all 72 of them are at the fairgrounds all day, said Sherry Stovner, the superintendent coordinator.
The day before the fair started, Olsen and others from the dog program came to the fairgrounds to finish setting up the barn. They decorated the walls with the year’s display, “Healthy Food for Dogs.” They swept the wooden benches with smelly anti-flea powder and covered them with tarps, and posted photos of dogs with their owners along the walls.
Danielle Hansen, 18, of Marysville, is in her last year with 4-H. The program has taught her more than caring for dogs; it’s taught her life skills, she said. Hansen has many memories of the dog barn — and of Sharon.
“Sharon’s always in the barn, always there to help out,” she said.
On that last day before the fair, a dozen kids and their families turned out to help. 4-H alumni, long since grown, shared stories of their days in the club.
“We have the nicest families and the nicest kids,” Olsen said proudly, sitting in her office with one of her Welsh corgis, Topper. Her other dog, Ivy, likes to stay home.
The dog program is open for the entire duration of the fair. A total of 162 children are scheduled to show 209 dogs this year.
“My husband thinks it’s a full-time job, but I think it’s more like a part-time job,” she said.
Olsen grew up in Spokane. She always liked dogs, but there was no 4-H dogs program in town when she was a kid. Her three children all went through 4-H, and the youngest daughter is still involved.
The family got into 4-H dogs because one of Olsen’s daughters wanted horses, but the family couldn’t have a horse. Instead, they had beagles, a golden retriever, then Welsh corgis. Olsen decided not to leave the dog program after her children grew up. She even competes with 2-year-old Topper, who already has two titles under his belt.
Olsen took over the program from her friend Beryl Epling, who died in July. Epling started the dog barn 59 years ago. The 4-H family credits her with many achievements, including leading club members to raise the first group of guide dogs in the state.
Olsen is continuing Epling’s legacy in the dog program. Epling and other volunteers built the dog barn from parts of an old dairy barn, Olsen said.
Epling put together an obstacle course before the agility competition was even invented.
She started some of the contests going on to this day. The dog tricks contest was one of Epling’s favorites, Olsen said, because her dogs were so good at tricks. She had corgis, like Olsen. Her last dog, Time, is 13 years old now and doing well. Epling also used to build trophies out of old trophies.
“Every time we hand out a trophy it’s got some of her handiwork on it,” Olsen said. “I miss her big time. She was a dear friend.”
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452; kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
Celebrate Beryl Epling’s life
A celebration of Beryl Epling’s life is planned for 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in the dog building.
Call 425 334-2975 to arrange for passes.
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