Wilber, Doris Kuenning’s legacy lives on

Vacations aren’t always a guarantee for farm families.

But for Wilber Kuenning, the Chase County Fair in Imperial was his vacation, son Jerry said.

Married in 1944, Wilber and Doris purchased land in 1953 and raised cattle, crops and kids.

The couple served as leaders and supporters of Chase County 4-H for many years.

The Kuenning family was, and still is, a staple around the beef barn at fair time.

Wilber and Doris’ kids showed at the Chase County Fair, then eight grandkids and, so far, five great-grandchildren.

It always was a family affair.

“It’s just what we did,” Jerry said.

Though Wilber’s kids showed home-raised animals, the biggest change over the years, according to Jerry and Wilber and Doris’ grandkids, Lance Kuenning, Brandon Kuenning and Kory Fowler, is the genetics and composition of the cattle.

These days, “it’s hard to be competitive with a calf you raise,” Jerry said.

The facilities on the fairgrounds have also changed through the years, Kory and Lance said.

“The community has stepped up to improve the facilities,” Jerry said, adding he believes the nicer barns help draw more families to the fair that come visit the animals in a safer setting.

Sometimes, though, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The water fight following the sale at the end of the fair brought fond memories back for Lance, Brandon and Kory and is now a highlight of the week for their kids.

Brandon pointed out that many of the kids his generation of Kuennings competed against now have kids the next generation of Kuennings are going up against.

There’s competition in the barn, but also camaraderie, he added.

There have been a few years  without a Kuenning in the beef show, probably fewer that Wilber missed, but Brandon’s kids Luke, Lily and June Kuenning, Kory’s kids Hayden, Grady and Landry Fowler and Lance’s kids Carter, Bennett and Cord Kuenning have many years of 4-H ahead of them.

The older of Wilber’s great-grandkids will be able to share stories of Wilber driving around the fairgrounds in his golf cart, including the time he ran over Kory’s husband, Nick’s, foot with the golf cart.

Despite the occasional mishap, Wilber’s daughter-in-law, Kathy, and great-grandson, Bennett, pointed out Wilber’s positive attitude. Even after a rough day in the show barn, Wilber would emphasize the positive, Bennett said.

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