Mary Bartlett’s journey with 4-H and the Santa Clara County Fair has spanned decades, and her dedication to both is woven into the fabric of the community. She first became involved in 1988 as a parent in the Los Gatos 4-H club. Her involvement deepened quickly, leading to lifelong friendships and countless memories.

Her first major project came when several participants in the club expressed interest in raising lambs. Despite not knowing much about lambs, Mary eagerly stepped up to lead the project. With guidance from experts like Kris Kvarnstrom and Steve Cardosa, she learned everything she needed to know. Her daughter embraced the project and continued raising lambs until she aged out. Later, Mary started a ceramics project that she ran for many years, teaching creativity and patience to a new generation of 4-H members.

Throughout her years of involvement, Mary’s leadership extended beyond her club. She became active in the 4-H County Council, eventually serving as president for two terms during a time of rapid growth, with over 1,200 members countywide. Her passion for expanding opportunities for 4-H members led her to partner with Lonnie Toensfeldt to start a 4-H domestic exchange program. Together, they took kids on unforgettable trips across the country, visiting states like Maryland, New York, Florida, and Colorado. The program thrived, even after Lonnie’s passing, with Hans stepping in to help Mary continue the tradition of traveling one year and hosting the following year. These experiences provided life-changing opportunities for the 4-H youth, showing them the world beyond California and creating bonds that stretched across state lines.

Mary was also a familiar face at leadership overnights and larger trips, including chaperoning at the Washington Focus conference and an incredible week of sightseeing in New York City. Traveling with 4-H kids was always a pleasure, and it was moments like these that Mary cherished the most—watching young people develop leadership skills, build friendships, and gain confidence.

One of the most anticipated events each year was the Fair. For Mary, it marked the culmination of months of hard work and dedication. Her club even bought an old trailer and renovated it so members could stay at the fairgrounds during the event, turning it into a two-week sleepover filled with fun, food, and camaraderie. The Fair was a special place for Mary and her family, creating memories that have lasted a lifetime.

Her passion for the Fair extended beyond 4-H. Mary became involved with the Fairgrounds Management Corporation Board, where she served as President for two years. When the fairgrounds needed someone to step in, she even took on the role of Executive Director until a permanent replacement was found in 2019. Throughout the years, Mary also volunteered in the competitive exhibits area, encouraging countless kids to enter their projects and even submitting a few of her own ceramic pieces, earning awards along the way.

Mary’s fondest recollections include time spent at the Los Gatos Ranch and the Fair, surrounded by dedicated 4-H members and their families. Watching 4-H kids grow into responsible, capable adults has always given Mary hope for the future. She recalls proudly the young leaders she’s seen flourish, like Jason Bombardier, the Haggarty’s, and the Bosworth’s, who have all carried the 4-H legacy into their adult lives. That legacy continues in her own family—her daughter Jennie is now a mustang horse leader in Idaho, with her own daughter in her second year of 4-H.

For Mary, 4-H has been about more than projects and ribbons; it’s been about community, leadership, and lifelong friendships. The Fair has always reflected that—a place where hard work, dedication, and love for the community come together to celebrate the best of what 4-H can offer.

Vicky Bosworth’s earliest memories of the Fair are tied to her grandfather, RV Garrod, who served on the Fair Board and was active in the community. He would bring muscat grapes, dried prunes, and apricots for display. She recalls walking into Expo Hall, amazed by the huge fruit displays shaped like the California Bear—one made from prunes with an apricot background and another in reverse. They would watch shows from a box in the Grandstand, and every year, her grandfather bought her glass animals from the Glass Blower’s booth, which she still cherishes.

When her oldest brother turned ten, her family joined 4-H, and she grew up attending meetings and spending time in the livestock barns. The excitement of people stomping to raise bids at the auction captivated her. So, when she turned ten, she eagerly joined 4-H, diving into as many projects as possible—electricity, cooking, sewing, livestock, and leadership. She served in every club officer role, became a Junior Leader and a County All-Star, and attended conferences and summer camps. Every summer, she spent days at the Fair—it was the highlight of her year.

After college, she participated in the International 4-H Youth Exchange and lived with 14 families for six months in Jamaica. That experience taught her the importance of living abroad and helped her better understand people. Regardless of where they live, people are just people.

When her children joined 4-H, she volunteered at the club at the county and state levels. She chaired the Fair awards for ten years, organizing volunteers to tally points and present awards. Even after her children were grown, she remained involved with 4-H because the friendships and the chance to make a difference kept her engaged.

Five years ago, she was appointed to the Fairgrounds Management Corporation Board. Instead of being the volunteer setting up booths, she helps make decisions. Vicky has come full circle in many ways—from visiting the Fair with her grandfather to shaping its future as a Board Chair.

Bob Towle is a fourth-generation Californian whose family has been deeply rooted in ranching, farming, and the restaurant industry in California since 1869. A dedicated educator, Bob graduated from San Jose State University with a BA in Biology and an MA in Educational Psychology. He taught biology at Piedmont Hills High School for 35 years, serving as the Science Department Chairperson for 25 of those years.

Bob’s passion for agriculture and community is evident in his remarkable 40+ years with the 4-H program. Over the years, he has served as a co-community club leader, leading projects in entomology, swine, sheep, and beef, and held roles as the county swine and sheep leader. For about 15 years, Bob was the Santa Clara County 4-H Large Animal Coordinator. His longstanding commitment to the County Fair began in 1984 when he started volunteering in the arena for sheep and swine shows. In 1992, he was honored with the prestigious Master Volunteer award by the Santa Clara County Fair. Today, he continues his volunteer work as a member of the Livestock and Auction Committees, coordinating and announcing shows for junior and open division large animals.

In 2002, recognizing his extensive experience and passion, Bob was invited to join the Prusch Farm Park Foundation to engage 4-H and FFA youth in educational programs. A year later, the park held its first 4-H/FFA Large Animal Field Day under Bob’s guidance, paving the way for future events focused on large and small animal education. In 2009, his dedication to youth development earned him the inaugural “Outstanding 4-H Volunteer” award from the Santa Clara County 4-H Council.

Bob’s legacy is also a family affair—he’s been married for 54 years, with four children and seven grandchildren, many of whom followed in his footsteps, showing livestock at the Fair. At times, his family brought as many as 28 large animals to showcase. After a shift in Fair management in 2019, Bob was called upon once again to revive the livestock shows, even managing to coordinate an online fair in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. He continues as the Large Animal Team Leader, fostering opportunities for young agriculturists in his community.

One amusing twist: Bob received a “Lifetime Pass” to the Fair in 1992, yet he’s remained such a dedicated volunteer that he’s never had the chance to use it.

Kathy Towle has a rich history with livestock, growing up with horses and cattle raised by her family in Red Bluff and Half Moon Bay. As a young 4-H member, she exhibited market steers at the San Mateo County Fair, and as an adult, she continued her passion by showing Angus bulls in the Open Division at the Santa Clara County Fair and breeding project steers. Kathy was one of the organizers of the Santa Clara County Stampede, a statewide youth cattle show. She was also a member of the Santa Clara County Cattlewomen’s Association and is a two-time recipient of their prestigious Cattlewoman of the Year award, reflecting her contributions to the local agricultural community.

In addition to her roles with the Cattlewomen’s Association, Kathy is a dedicated member of the Prusch Farm Park Foundation, supporting livestock programs and events at the County Fair. Her commitment to 4-H extends over many years, where she served as a co-community club leader, project leader for poultry, horses, sheep, swine, and beef, and led a variety of arts and crafts projects.

Kathy has been a Master Volunteer at the Santa Clara County Fair since 1998, dedicating countless hours to the Livestock and Auction Committees. In preparation for the fair, she sorts ribbons, answers phones, coordinates with buyers, and assists with pen setup. During the event, Kathy assists in the animal check-in and veterinary inspection process and works in the arena for market shows, including sheep, swine, goats, and beef. As a Cattlewomen’s Association member, she also supports the Beef Bred and Fed and Beef Bred and Owned shows and has organized the Beef Skill-a-thon as a fun, educational activity.

One of Kathy’s most significant roles has been overseeing the smooth operation of the auction by lining up exhibitors and their animals—a responsibility she has managed for over 20 years with great skill and dedication. Additionally, Kathy has been a hands-on contributor to the Clover Foundation’s fundraising efforts for the Fair, assisting in organizing and cooking for two major fundraising dinners.

Kathy’s lifelong dedication to livestock, youth education, and community service has made her an invaluable part of the Santa Clara County Fair and the broader agricultural community.

Hans Toensfeldt, known to most simply as “Mr. T,” has supported youth agricultural programs in Santa Clara County for more than four decades. It all started when his eldest daughter joined Rolling Hills 4-H club and his wife Lonnie was recruited to take over the Club Leader position. Soon Mr. T was building a chicken coop in the backyard and giving engineering advice on how best to layout a sewing pattern, harvest a chicken or fix a fence at the club ranch. Throughout it all he continued to support Lonnie in her mission to teach, grow, and mentor their extended 4-H Family. Mr. and Mrs. T continued to fall in love with the program as they saw their daughters, and the rest of their 4-H family grow and succeed. It became their life’s work. Hans took on the position of Treasurer for the County’s 4-H Council and dedicated many hours toward modernizing records for the Junior Livestock Auction. When Lonnie passed in 2006, Hans retired from his long career with Kaiser Aerospace & Electronics and immediately knew he had to take on the work Lonnie started. Hans joined the Clover Foundation Board as Treasurer and was first to volunteer for interviewing junior exhibitors for livestock loans.

In 2014 Hans enthusiastically signed on to the newly formed Fairgrounds Heritage Foundation dedicated to preserving and rebuilding the Fairgrounds for the future of our community. He has served as 4-H Emerald Star Advisor and County Ranch Advisor. He also served as the ranch manager at McClellan ranch where he is still a frequent workday volunteer. He’s claimed the nickname “Master Rat Killer,” using his love of experiments to devise new and improved ways to keep pesky vermin out of the livestock feed. In October 2017, the Tubbs Fire raged in Sonoma for 3 weeks and Hans instantly jumped in to help, spending day after day at our own Fairgrounds collecting large donations for displaced pets and over 300 horses temporarily housed at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. He was even interviewed on the KTVU News -Go Hans! A Master Volunteer is always looking for new ways to help out the community, and this continued throughout 2020 and 2021. As the Covid Pandemic began to hit, Hans found a local teen making face shields in a NextDoor video and recruited him to join forces with 4-H volunteers.

Together they built and donated hundreds of protective shields throughout the county, including to the Indian Health Center serving local Native Americans. Hans loves to pay it forward through his philanthropic contributions and always keeps a full freezer of delicious meat from the Junior Livestock Auction.

John Haggerty was a proud and devoted 4-H volunteer, supporter of youth agricultural programs and a staunch supporter and volunteer of the Santa Clara County Fair for over 30 years. John’s path to volunteerism at the fair and with youth agricultural programs began when he enrolled his five children in 4-H. He supported his children showing small and large animals, as well as other exhibitors each year at the fair. Not only did his children fall in love with 4-H and the Fair, but he did too. Over the years, the Fair went from being a two-week affair to a short four-day Fair, as it exists today. John worried about what would happen to 4-H and FFA youth if there was no Fair.

Where would they show their animals? Where would they display their exhibits? In order to protect the continued existence of 4-H and FFA livestock projects in this county, John believed he would need to help save the Fair and protect the Fairgrounds from land developers. On his quest to ensure everyone could continue to enjoy the Fair, as he and his family had, John attended countless meetings at the County Board of Supervisors and fairgrounds planning meetings, wrote letters to elected officials, joined the Fair Management Corporation (FMC) Board and became a member of the Clover Foundation board. John became a fixture at the Fair. He could always be found supporting the youth at the auction, and for over a decade, he managed the Small Animal Barn. John was very proud of this barn, as well as the youth and adult volunteer who spend many hours to ensure a safe experience for the youth and an educational experience for the public.

John worked very hard to make sure the youth in Santa Clara County had the opportunity to learn life skills and experience agricultural endeavors, regardless of whether they reside in the county or in the city. Through his participation on the Clover Foundation board, he helped provide significant financial support to both 4-H and FFA programs at the Fair.

Much of his time and energy was devoted to making their fair possible each year. Although he will be dearly missed, his legacy will live on here during the Fair each year.

Bill Dabel, may hold the record for having attended most, if not all, of the past 75+ Fairs. Bill began exhibiting and volunteering at the Santa Clara County Fair in 1952 at age 5, as a member of the Evergreen 4-H club when he submitted his first entry of fruit.

Bill’s mom, Martha Lee, began her volunteering on the Amateur Cut Flowers and Gardens committee in 1969 then became Floriculture Chair when Eleanor Vennum retired. Martha was on the Board of Directors from the mid 1970’s – 1997. Henry Gerdts, his cousin, was active with the fair planning beginning in 1948. Henry served as a Fair Director for the Santa Clara County Fair in 1955 to mid 1980’s. So, it was no surprise when he wanted to become more involved himself. He first began volunteering more than 60 years ago when he led an antique engine and tractor show. Originally located in the Fair Family Park, where very few people came by to see them, he convinced the planning committee to move the engines and tractors to an area along side of the sheep and swine building, where they were smothered in Fair Goers. Bill followed in his mother’s footsteps helping in the Floriculture Department. In 1988, Bill was Co-Chair of the Dish Garden committee. Later he became chair of the Floriculture Department and then, with declining exhibits, took over the Agriculture/Horticulture Department as well. Throughout the years this kindhearted, the gentle giant could be found somewhere between the Home Arts building and Floriculture buildings, and now is a beloved Heritage Ambassador at the Fairgrounds Heritage Exhibit.

Bill’s love for the Fair and many years of volunteering created him one of the most incredible collections of “Fair Swag” from years past. Each year Bill would set up display cases in the Home Arts building to show off some of these historic gems, for us all reminisce about. His collection consists of items from the small pins to much larger items including the original plans for the Grandstands and Expo Hall. There are plywood cut-outs of the Happy Farmer and several other cut-outs, to programs from the 50’s and 60’s, Premium Entry books from the 70’s, 80’s and beyond, too many buttons, pins, tickets, coffee mugs, photos, the Cheerie Farmer’s Daughter in a glass bottle and sooo much more. Many of these items can still be seen each year is the Fairgrounds Heritage Foundation Display and if you’re lucky you may even catch Bill there himself.

Lonnie, contributed extensively to the youth of Santa Clara County. She was a long time 4-H Leader at the County level and in Cupertino where she lived. Her 4-H career started in 1972 when she co-founded Rolling Hills 4-H Club, currently the largest 4-H Club in the County. In 1973 she served on a Citizen’s Advisory Committee that designated a newly-acquired 16 acres property as a Rural and Natural Preserve. The following year she brokered a lease to a two acre section for use as a 4-H Farm site that is one of 4 remaining shared sites on public land in the county. She went on to serve as the Club Community leader for about 25 years. During that time she served as the writer, editor, and publisher of the monthly 4-H newsletter (Timely Topics) for 20 years, served several terms as County 4-H Council President, served as Adult leader for several learning Projects, and filled the position of 4-H Key Leader for about two decades. With another leader she initiated and held Youth Exchanges with 4-H members of three other states.

In the late 1970’s and through the 1980’s her 3 daughters raised 22 market animals – sheep, swine, and cattle – that were shown and auctioned at the Santa Clara County Fair. During those years, and for several years thereafter, she hosted a small travel trailer where club youths stayed during the run of the Fair. Through her associations with the Fair she became a member of the original Fair Association and later served for a few years on the Fairgrounds Advisory Committee. On several occasions she rallied members of 4-H to attend meetings of the County Supervisors to gain support for the local 4-H Office and the Fairgrounds. She also served for 8 years on the Cupertino Parks and Recreation Commission; during that time, the City built its first Senior Center. She followed with about 5 years on the County Animal Advisory Committee. She also served on the Boards of the Clover Foundation and of the Assistance League of Los Gatos-Saratoga, supplying school supplies to low-income children and lunches for Seniors.

William “Bill” Straub’s life was shaped by ambition, creativity, and a love for his community. Born in 1915 in San Jose, his career began early, as he took charge of the Fox California Theater at just 23. It was there that he met Pauline Findlay, a fellow San Jose native, and their shared connection led to marriage. After a brief move to Stockton, where Bill managed the Ritz Theater, they returned to their roots in San Jose. Bill soon found himself managing two more prominent theaters in town, the Padre and the Mission.

Though successful in the theater world, Bill’s true legacy would be built at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. In 1951, he shifted careers, leaving behind the silver screen to take on a role as the Manager of Special Events at the Fair. His leadership qualities quickly became apparent, and in 1952, he was promoted to Assistant Manager under Russell E. Pettit. Just three years later, Bill was appointed Secretary-Manager, succeeding Pettit upon his retirement.

This marked the beginning of an era of remarkable growth at the Fairgrounds. Bill’s visionary approach was best symbolized by the design and construction of the Fair’s iconic Arch. Inspired by the St. Louis Arch, Bill wanted to create a “Gateway to the Fair” — a landmark that would welcome visitors and embody the spirit of community and celebration. Under his leadership, the Santa Clara County Fair saw a significant transformation. Attendance to the annual County Fair skyrocketed from 323,000 to an astonishing 1.3 million, and the number of annual events held at the fairgrounds expanded from 143 to 744.

Bill’s influence reached far beyond Santa Clara County. In 1968, he was elected President of the Western Fairs Association (WFA), a testament to the impact of his leadership in the fair industry. His contributions, including serving as Area 6 Chairman, Central and South Coast Chairman, and Vice President of the WFA, among others, left a lasting mark.

By the time he retired in 1973, Bill had firmly cemented his legacy, not just through the buildings he designed but, in the thriving, vibrant fairground culture he helped nurture. He remained in San Jose after retirement, where his love for the fair continued until his passing in 1992.