Note: Every year, before the political speaking at the St. Jerome Fancy Farm Picnic, there is an award that is presented to those who go above and beyond to help the community of Fancy Farm and all of Graves County. This year, one of the recipients of the award was my husband, Jimmy Elder. This is what I wrote to nominate him.
When you say pioneer, I don’t think you can label this person as a pioneer. I mean, he’s not doing anything that his parents, his grandparents, and all the others in the community didn’t do. They were the pioneers. But I will tell you that this man lives and breathes the values and faith that those who came before him brought with them and lived in this small western Kentucky town.
Jimmy Elder was born and raised in Fancy Farm. He likes to tell that he was born under a tobacco plant because his mother probably came home from the hospital and went straight out to the tobacco patch to hoe tobacco, since he was born in June. He does remember his mother bringing a quilt to the field so that her small children could play in the shade while she and her husband did hoe tobacco, or top tobacco or sucker tobacco or cut tobacco. So, he was either in a field or a dairy barn his entire life, since he remembers helping to milk the cows when he was about three.
Aside from being a farmer, he was also born into a devout Catholic house. His faith has been an important part of his life. No, he’s not one to run the church doors down, and he’s not holier than thou, but he lives his faith every day, in every way. We, being his family, are so very fortunate to have been influenced by him. He truly does live his faith. I think the best way that he does that is by serving others.
Jimmy’s not one to write a huge check to an organization if they need help. But he is one who will work with that organization in any way he can. He will volunteer, he will raise funds, he will serve on committees. He truly believes that you help people help themselves. He doesn’t believe in doing it for them.
Throughout his life he has been active in the community, beginning with Fancy Farm School. Once he graduated he was involved in FFA and served as an advisor for their Ag Department. He was involved in little league everything. He coordinated the annual Fourth of July Parade for many years. He was proud to fly flags all over Fancy Farm in honor of those who had come or gone before him. He coached kids in baseball, bragging about the championships that they won. He has been on the Graves County Fair Board and involved in FFA at Graves County High School, when his children and others have needed him.
When his children attended St. Joseph School he was extremely involved in attempting to raise funds. He helped to resurrect the annual Christmas Auction. He originated a Backyard BBQ contest. When the kids moved into the Graves County schools then he did what he could to help the organizations that they were a part of. Even though he hated soccer he was instrumental in helping to get bleachers, dugouts and lights for their new program. No telling how much fruit he has sold or bought throughout the years. We won’t even talk about the Girl Scout cookies he has sold, or bought.
He has served on the Picnic Committees at both St. Jerome and St. Charles Catholic Churches. He has sold chances for those picnics all over the area, all over the state, anywhere he could. He has cooked barbeque at St. Charles and sold barbeque his entire life at St. Jerome’s Picnic. For as long as I’ve known him he has been the Chairman of the St. Jerome One Mile Classic.
As a member of the Knights of Columbus he was in charge of Youth activities for years and years. He coordinated the annual Easter Egg Hunt and the Free Throw Contest. He was involved in collecting donations for the annual Christmas Basket Auction, auctioning those items off, and then filling the baskets and delivering them throughout western Kentucky.
Jimmy wouldn’t tell you any of this, even if you asked straight out. He’s not one for going on about things that he has done. In fact, I’m sure that I’ve missed quite a bit. But there are many people out there who would tell you that if you want something done you ask Jimmy Elder.
Jimmy wouldn’t ever call himself a mentor but there are several young men and women in our community who have worked for Jimmy or have been impacted by him. When we hear about these people it always amazes me that the words that keep coming back are “work ethic”. Jimmy instills a work ethic in anyone he comes in contact with and I’m sure they would line up right now to tell you all kinds of stories about working with Jimmy. He’s not an easy boss but if you listen to him, and get the job done the way he wants it, then you have an ally for life.
All these things that Jimmy is, or has done are impressive, I must say. But the most impressive part of him are the children that he has raised. His four children love him and hate him in one breath. But the nieces and nephews that he helped raise were just as influenced. They all have stories to tell and even though they had parents and grandparents around in their life, they will tell you that Jimmy was just as instrumental in their lives. Don’t get them talking though because they all have stories to tell. I am most impressed though with the fact that he has instilled into his children, now adults, his values and the Catholic faith. These were passed to him by those who came before and he has been so generous in passing them onto the next generation.
As for me, I have been greatly influenced by his sense of faith and community, his love of his farm and of Fancy Farm, and of me. I am truly blessed to be his wife.
I know that I said that Jimmy is not a pioneer. But I do think that he truly deserves this award and I hope that the committee considers him. Thank you.
