July 5, 2004

For five years now, The Alameda County Fair's Community Heroes program has recognized local members of communities in Alameda County for their contribution to helping others, great achievements and courageous qualities. With Mom, Melinda and Dad, Tim beaming in the audience, fellow Sunolian and Fair Board Director, Ario Ysit, presented Cari Koopman her award for being Sunol's Community Hero at a ceremony following the Fair's parade on June 26. According to the Alameda County Fair, Cari was chosen for "being involved in community sports programs since the age of five. Her accomplishments include being awarded Player of the Week all four years of her career pitching for her varsity softball team. She has played for the West Bay Nuggets Gold Junior Olympic Team for the past two years. A current member of Future Farmers of America and Sunol 4-H, Koopman was recently awarded her State Farmer Degree, Sectional Star Farmer, and a Certificate of Achievement in Recognition of Outstanding Accomplishments in Agricultural Education". A recent graduate of Livermore High School, Cari will be attending her Dad's alma mater, the University of Reno and she will be majoring in Animal Science and Agriculture.

On winning the award Cari says, "Thanks, it's a really great honor, I feel really special because I didn't realize so many people noticed the little things I do."

Mom, Melinda says, "Cari's motto is 'Get 'er done'. I am very, very proud that Cari was chosen to represent Sunol; she's very old fashioned like Tim. It's something that is really special. It was a big honor when we got the call". And to top things off Cari has already won Supreme Reserve Champion Bull, best four-head and best young herd with her Future Farmers of America Group at this years County Fair.

We have some more amazing kids here in Sunol's 4-H making a great show at the Alameda County Fair. Showing beef is Herman Baron; showing beef and swine are Anthony DeValle, Devin DeValle, Galen Hoxie, Travis Hoxie, Randy Moor and Danielle Scroggins; showing beef and sheep are Amanda Hoxie, Andrew Nelson and Crystal Santucci; showing beef and breeding is Haley Imhof, who also won first place in her class; showing swine and sheep and carpentry is Kyle Scroggins; showing carpentry and swine are Luke Donovan and Marc Donovan; showing carpentry is Ryan Harper; showing rabbits and crafts are Sierra Levenson, Jeremiah Santucci and Robert Santucci; showing crafts are Andrew Imhof and Maddie McClay; showing rabbits is Wyatt Milne; showing crafts, rabbits and sheep is Cassi Scroggins; showing rabbits is Devin Wells; showing sheep are Brittany Harper, Katie Surles and Sarae Van Dyke; showing swine are Justin Amaral, Brooke Bishop, Mike Brunicardi, Jeff Clark, Katie Donovan, Haley Haggerty, Jennifer Haggerty, Jessica Santucci, Chanel Schvaneveldt and Shane Schvaneveldt; showing beef, swine and breeding are Frank Imhof, who also won third place in his class, Nichole Nelson, Gabriel Gilbert, who won first place class bull and Jessica Crawford who also won for her Champion Heifer Hereford in the breeding cattle division and third place in showmanship. I'm sure I'll be reporting more big winners, as there is still one more week of competition at the fair. Good luck to you all.

After too many months of hiatus, the Drumming group is again meeting at the Little Brown Church. If you are interested in "feeling the beat" and want to join this vibrant band of drummers, grab your drum, or use one of theirs and head to the church this Sunday from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. All are welcome and no experience is necessary.