You could say 4-H is in the blood of Pierce County residents Arthur & Maxine Schaller. It’s been a huge part of their lives for decades. They have served as the Junior Fair Flowers & Houseplants superintendents for 35 years.

Both were in 4-H when they were kids. Maxine’s mother was one of the leaders of the Martell Rushers 4-H Club, which is still going strong today. Maxine herself led the club with Marie Cebulla for about 15 years. And now the Schallers’ daughter Paula co-leads the club with Jennifer Hince.

Art spent 11 years in La Crosse County 4-H, where he grew up.

“With this year, I’ve got 42 years in Pierce,” Art said. “For 21 years I was the committee chairperson for the 4-H Softball Committee.”

The pair met in La Crosse County when Maxine went there to help her aunt and uncle, who were confined to wheelchairs thanks to the effects of polio.

“I had scheduled a double date with another couple,” Art said. “My date the day before called me and said she couldn’t go out because her brother had the mumps. So I called the couple and she knew someone who could go. It was Maxine.”

The pair have been married 54 years this year and have four children. Their kids took every project imaginable to the fair over the years.

In 1988, Maxine took over the role of Junior Fair Flowers & Houseplants superintendent. Art came on board with her a year later.

“It’s fun to see all the kids bring in all of their projects,” Maxine said. “Over the years, you see families coming back, kids coming back. People remember you. We know a lot of the kids and their families.”

Maxine has also served as a building guard during the fair for 25 years. She is onsite from 8 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. daily throughout the fair. She and other guards sweep and clean the building each day before it opens. They sit watch at the doorways, walk around and check on exhibits, and make sure people don’t steal or touch things.

“Every year you see someone you saw the year before or that you haven’t seen for several years,” Maxine smiled.

While Art isn’t a paid building guard, he can usually be found by Maxine’s side, helping her in that role. He also volunteers with the fairgrounds crew and has helped find lost children.

“Every year there is a lost child,” Art said. “Most of the time, a kid just gets so overtired and goes somewhere to fall asleep.”

“Sometimes kids will come to the office and say they can’t find their parents,” Maxine added.

Art found one boy under a tractor on Machinery Hill one year, sound asleep. He stood watch over the boy until his parents came, so as not to scare him when he woke up.

The pair clearly loves 4-H and the fair but is choosing to retire from the superintendents’ roles after this year. For both, it’s the physical limitations.

“For me, probably my age,” Art said. “Standing up too long, I get worn out. It is a lot of work when you’re doing it. Set up, take down, a lot more work that I thought it would be.”

Maxine has rheumatoid arthritis, which wears her out by the end of the day. However, the pair speak highly of all the superintendents and building guards, who help each other out.

During the fair, the Schallers set up the flower and houseplants area in the Round Barn rotunda. They check in each exhibitor and organize all the exhibits. Once judging commences, they bring the flowers and plants to the judge, mark the ribbon results on their sheet and put the plant back in its place.

“Sometimes we have enough help, sometimes we don’t,” Maxine said. “We really need three people when they do the ribbons.”

Maxine’s favorite part of the job is easy to pinpoint.
“Just seeing all the exhibitors coming back year and year,” Maxine said. “You get to know them, you know. And then, when all the ribbons are judged. They’re (the kids) probably not there when it’s judged. Seeing the expressions on their faces when they come back, their eyes get so big.”

Art agrees it’s fun to get to know the kids who come back year after year.

“And then the cycle starts over again. We help out the new kids as much as we can,” he said.

Since they took over as superintendents, the department has grown quite a bit. They note that last year they were “way down” in flowers, but this year the number has greatly increased.

“Things have really bounced back,” Maxine said.

When new superintendent Krista Klecker takes the reins, the Schallers will be on hand to help her out. Their years of experience will no doubt be an asset to make the transition smooth. And when you see them in the Round Barn, make sure to stop and say hello.