By Cindy Barksdale | Published Sunday, November 1, 2009
On Monday night, Aug. 10, a decision was made by the Wise County Youth Fair Board to exclude children of divorced families by not allowing them to participate in the Wise County Youth Fair. The children targeted were ones that live with one parent in Wise County and live and go to school with a parent in another county. The parents have joint custody. Families of these divorced children do live in Wise County, own businesses in Wise County, work in Wise County and pay taxes in Wise County. In addition, they support a wide variety of businesses in Wise County.
These 4-H members were able to participate in the Wise County Youth Fair for the last three years without incident. During those years, they participated using the exception to the eligibility rule that is stated in the Wise County Youth Fair book. Each year a letter was presented to the board stating that the children from these divorced families would only participate in Wise County 4-H and would only show at the Wise County Youth Fair. This eligibility rule has been in effect for approximately 20 years. In June of 2009, the eligibility rule was changed to more directly address children in a divorce situation. Then in August by no provocation from these children of divorced families, the Wise County Youth Fair board canceled the motion passed in June and stated that these children would not be able to show at the Wise County Youth Fair.
Understand that these children can participate fully in the Texas and county 4-H programs. The issue is not with Texas 4-H or the Wise County 4-H program that has gone above and beyond to allow these children to participate in county, district and state events. The problem is specifically with the Wise County Youth Fair Board.
As an educator, I have found that children that live in joint custody divorce arrangements become extended into two households and two locations. These children view their homes to be Mom's home and Dad's home. When divorced families work together to allow their children to obtain a positive experience, then it should not be a board that reinterprets their own rule that keeps a child from participating. It is distressing that a board that is for the youth of this county would choose to leave out these children. It is my opinion that the Wise County Youth Fair Board should allow these children to exhibit their 4-H projects in the Wise County Youth Fair.
Attend the next Wise County Youth Fair board meeting Monday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. at the Women's Building at the Posse Grounds to learn how your town's representative on the Wise County Youth Fair Board has voted for this issue.
