Silvernotes Among Homemakers Making Fair More to Sing About

By: Betsy Reason

If you’re visiting the Hamilton County 4-H Fair this week, you’ll likely see a presence of Hamilton County Extension Homemakers.

You’ll find them educating, volunteering, leading and making life more joyful.

Every year at the 4-H Fair, the Extension Homemakers get up early and make breakfast, then lunch, then dinner in the Exhibition Center’s kitchen and serve cafeteria style in the Exhibition Center’s Dining Room.

They serve up biscuits and gravy for breakfast, hamburgers and hot dogs at lunch and dinner, plus the Special of the Day each day of the Fair. Thursday’s was Taco Platter, a new dish they’re trying this year to replace Spaghetti and Meatballs, which didn’t catch on like the Chicken and Noodles on Friday, Meatloaf on Saturday and Beef and Noodles, which have become traditions. The line is usually long at lunch and dinner with regulars who love the specials, which sometimes sell out before the end of the day.

Just down the hallway to the large halls in the Exhibition Center, fair-goers will also find the annual Extension Homemakers’ Flower Show Exhibit, judged on Thursday, and on display through 6 p.m. Monday; and the Extension Homemakers’ annual Used Book Sale, open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Sunday and 10 a.m. to noon Monday. Plus, there is public viewing of Extension Homemakers’ Food & Craft Show from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. today.

Just outside of the Exhibition Center, in the Commons Area, fair-goers will find more Extension Homemakers making and selling another favorite at the fair. The Silvernotes, Hamilton County’s Choral Club within the Extension Homemakers, have been making elephant ears at the 4-H Fair for many, many years.

On Thursday, I ventured over to the Silvernotes’ Elephant Ear booth, where volunteers were busy bees making the crispy, uneven, wrinkled circles of fried dough, reminiscent of an elephant’s ear, that have become Americana at fairs.

Diana Stanton, director of Silvernotes for almost 20 years, donned a white apron over her white white pants and smiled as she greeted me at their work station next to the elephant ear sales station.

At the Fair, the Silvernotes have an assembly line of volunteers helping to make and serve the elephant ears. Stanton explained the process as I watched volunteers cut and roll dough and place the dough in plastic storage bags, then stretch the dough to be cooked in the fryers, then blotted dry, and finally reach the cinnamon-and-sugar station before serving to the waiting customers.

“Everybody takes their fair share of work,” Stanton, 64, Fishers, said. “We all work together to make the elephant ears.”

Most of the Silvernotes members have been volunteering at the booth for many, many years. But they’re counting on more new, young Silvernotes, like Stanton’s granddaughter, Gracelynn Wilhelm, 15, to eventually take over the elephant ear booth as the older members retire. It’s Gracelyn’s first year in the Silvernotes, but she has enjoyed volunteering at the booth in years past, the teen said.

The money raised selling elephant ears at the fair goes to paying the choir director and accompanists, buying sheet music and costumes for their live choir performances, two of which take place at Noblesville Jim Dandy, which donates a percentage of sales back to Silvernotes.

The Silvernotes, which meet every Monday evening, are among 10 Hamilton County Extension Homemaker clubs, most of which meet in various geographic locations and on various days of the week to offer flexibility for busy schedules. In Noblesville, East Wayne Extension Homemaker club meets the third Wednesday, Harbourites meet the second Thursday, Monte Ray meets the third Thursday, Profit and Pleasure meets the fourth Tuesday, all during the day. In the Heights area of Atlanta, Arcadia and Cicero, the Roaring ‘20s meet the first Wednesday evening. In Fishers, Fall Creek Home Arts meet the second Wednesday during the day. In the Carmel-Westfield area, Friendly Eagles meet the second Thursday evening. In Sheridan, North Adams meets the second Friday during the day.

The Extension Homemakers give away college scholarships and most of the members volunteer every year at the county 4-H Fair. They also offer an array of educational opportunities. Membership is XXX yearly. To join Extension Homemakers or to learn about local Extension clubs in your area, email Bernie Huber at bchuber@purdue.edu, or call the Fairgrounds office at 317-776-0854.

-Betsy Reason writes about people, places and things in Hamilton County. Contact The Times Editor Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.