Ohlund family members in front of the pavilion — parents Jackie and Timm, Hanna’s sister Tara Young, and her children Hank and Carolyn Young.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Author Allison Todd is WNLP’s summer intern. Allison grew up in LaPorte and is a sophomore at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI, majoring in journalism and minoring in communications. She is editor of her school paper. Allison also plays in the pep band and a brass quintet on campus.
Story and photos by Allison Todd
(Click on photos to enlarge)
Hanna and Rebel (family photo)
A new structure is under construction at the fairgrounds in the horse and pony area in memory of Hanna Ohlund.
Hanna passed away after being involved in a car accident on Aug. 7, 2013.
Since she was a 10-year member of 4-H Horse and Pony, her parents decided to put up a building that would benefit the other members.
“If you see all these barns and all these stalls and all these kids out here, if they need to change their clothes they stand behind their horse and change their clothes,” said Tim Ohlund, Hanna’s father. “That’s the whole theory about it, and the need has been there forever.”
The structure is called The Rebel Pavilion. It is planned to be air-conditioned and include bathrooms, changing areas and nicer concessions. It also includes a picnic area.
“The story of Rebel is Rebel was my daughter’s horse,” Tim said. “We still have Rebel. It’s a perfect name for the pavilion because of the way the two of them, Hanna and Rebel, were just a team.”
“You look at him, and he’s just a little bit of Hanna we can see every day,” he said. “So we decided in memory we would call it the Rebel Pavilion. We think of Rebel all the time and we think of Hanna all the time when we see Rebel.”
Emma Ohlund, Hanna’s younger sister, carries on the family tradition being involved in Horse and Pony.
Also a 10-year member of 4-H Horse and Pony, John Gilmore, CEO of Tonn and Blank in Michigan City, was originally asked to help with the design of the building. But then he offered to have Tonn and Blank to build it.
Construction completion will take place after the 2015 LaPorte County Fair is over.
John Langford is a senior leader of 4-H Horse and Pony and a friend of Tim’s. With both of their families involved in the program, both men find value in being involved in 4-H and have continued to stay involved through their children. Tim’s oldest granddaughter just began her first year with 4-H Horse and Pony.
“It’s the responsibility that you learn as a horse and pony member: caring for the animal; getting along with another being that can think. It really sets you up well for life,” Langford said.
That’s a main reason the Ohlunds decided to build this structure.
“The sewer lines are going to be the major expense. The rest of the pavilion could be built just with volunteer labor, but we have to have some money to pay for the materials,” Langford said. “This whole little project has been so exciting to see how community can come together and get these things done.”
Donations toward the completion of the structure are being accepted through the Unity Foundation of LaPorte County. Also, during fair week, a donation box is located in the Horse and Pony area.
Plans for the structure are displayed during fair week.