Posted July 27, 2002

Finale to honor 2 late 4-H'ers

Money from auction of hogs to go toward memorial funds

By Beth Hlavek, Journal and Courier

The memory of two 4-H'ers, who were killed this year in separate vehicle crashes, will be honored today during the final day of the Tippecanoe County 4-H Fair.

PRIZE OFFERING: Hal Snyder stands with the hog he hopes will raise money for the scholarship fund named for Snyder's nephew. (Michael Heinz, Journal and Courier)

Two hogs will be auctioned off to raise money for memorial funds in honor of two teens who annually raised 4-H swine to show in competitions.

Harrison High School senior Bryan Snyder, 18, was entering his ninth year in 4-H when he died Feb. 6 from injuries sustained in a car crash the night before. McCutcheon High School freshman Tyler Ellsworth was killed in a July 13 boating incident, just before his sixth year in 4-H.

Throughout the week, posterboards with photos of Ellsworth at previous fairs were displayed in his memory beside two hogs he raised, as well as the shirt he would have worn, 4-H leader Jane Sandefur said.

"West Point is a very small community where everyone knows everyone," said Sandefur, leader of the Wayne Township Nifty Farmers 4-H club. "The kids become very close. They go to school, community activities and 4-H together, so this hits all the kids in the club."

Over the past week, Ellsworth's stepbrother, Russell Squirek, showed both of Ellsworth's hogs -- a guilt and a barrow -- with both receiving award ribbons.

Snyder's family will auction a 226-pound guilt to raise money for a scholarship fund for students who pursue careers in law enforcement, which was Snyder's goal.

"Since Bryan couldn't achieve his dream, we're going to try to help some other kids be able to," said his uncle, Hal Snyder.

Snyder's 4-H group, the Perry Wildcats, already has sponsored a fund-raising cookout for the scholarship fund, which is administrated through Farmer's Bank in Mulberry.

Snyder grew up on a farm south of Pettit that his family has owned and operated since 1881, where relatives raise cattle, as well as corn, wheat and soybeans, Hal Snyder said.

Bryan Snyder's father, Max, was a 4-H'er in his youth, as were both of his uncles. Four of his cousins competed at the fair this year.

"This week at the fair was really tough," said Hal Snyder.

Max Snyder described his son as someone who made others feel good about themselves and was ready to help when he saw the need.

" 'Be true to your friends.' That's what his motto was," he said.