Butterflies Junior Garden Club were pleased to honor Francis Byers as “The Bounty of Darke County”

The Butterflies Junior Garden Club were pleased to honor Francis Byers as “The Bounty of Darke County” - decorating a tree in the Pioneer Village at the Garst Museum with dried materials grown from the Byers Family.

Born December 21, 1921, a 1940 graduate of Monroe High School, Francis Byers grew up on a farm in Van Buren Township. Francis has been exhibiting fruits, vegetables and grains at The Great Darke County Fair since 1939. Francis has won hundreds of rosettes and hundreds of exhibitor ribbons during the 75 years.

His Darke County Fair awards include: Best Display of Vegetables and Best Display of Fruits. At the Ohio State Fair, Francis received the distinction of Grand Winner of All Displays. Francis’ children, Donna Jeanne Christian and Merrill Lee Byers also enjoy gardening and participating in the farmers markets, to which Francis replied “who knows, maybe they will take my place at The Great Darke County Fair”.

Francis was inducted into the Ohio Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1996 and served as Grand Marshal of the 2002 Darke County Fair Parade and honored in 2014.

Francis has many great Fair memories but he mentioned much has changed since 1939. Francis has not missed an annual Fair yet. Francis noted that the first contest he participated in was held in a building southeast of the Grandstand. Over the years, the event moved to the Grandstand, then to the Coliseum, where it continues to be held today.

Corn tassel served as the tree topper. Several varieties of dried beans, sorghum, celosia, popcorn, and other materials were used to decorate the tree. Members decorating were Brianna Fellers, Meg Rehmert, Chloe Eberhard, Kate Rehmert and Audrey Allread. All members of the Butterflies Junior Garden Club thank Mr. Byers and his family for their dedication in growing fruits, vegetables and grains making the “Bounty in Darke County”.