Posted on August 21, 2023 at 1:27 PM by Emily Saveraid
In 1966, when John Peck was 13, his family moved to Fairfield. John graduated from Fairfield High School in 1971 and later met his wife, Charlotte. They were married on December 2, 1973. They have three children, Shawn, Lisa, and Chris, and 10 grandchildren.
John has been a long time volunteer for the 4-H youth program. He served on the Fair Board for 16 years and recently completed seven years of service on the Jefferson County Extension Council.
John is passionate about 4-H because he deeply cares about providing experiences that foster skills that will last a lifetime for youth. Over the years, John has led or participated in various initiatives that have benefited the 4-H youth program. He is often seen assisting during livestock weigh-ins and served several years as the superintendent for the hog and sheep barns.
John was integral to the memorandum of understanding between Extension and Fair Board. In addition, John led the development of the advisory committee that helps enforce rules and settle disputes. He recently formed a Building Committee to establish new fairground facilities.
Back in the day, John could be found on his tractor getting the arena ready for the rodeo. He spent countless hours seeking donations, picking up supplies, and putting in manual labor to help build a community garden, which ultimately produced fruit and vegetables donated to the Lord’s Cupboard. John helped organize the Horse Caravan in 2004, where people rode horses and wagons to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first Iowa State Fair held in Fairfield in 1854.
Through the years, John has truly encompassed the four pillars of 4-H: Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. He has been known to say, “Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.”
