2014 July PASO Magazine

Family, Farming, Fair
The Lahargou Family
By Judy Bedell
John and Kim Lahargou, and their sons Eric and
Michael, are all about family, farming and the Fair.
They have competed, volunteered, worked and
enjoyed the California Mid-State Fair for many,
many years. Their summer plans revolve around
the dates of the Fair and Eric and Michael spend
time every day starting in spring working with
their market hogs which they will enter in the
Junior Livestock Show. They are also all about
family, helping to keep the multi-generation
farming enterprises going and spending time
together while working.
The California Mid-State Fair has provided a lot
of great memories for this family. John’s parents,
Pierre and Emalyce Lahargou, started taking their
children to the Fair and now enjoy the chance to
watch their grandchildren compete.
A favorite Lahargou family Fair memory is winning
tickets for the whole family to see the Clint
Black/LeAnn Rimes concert.
Michael and Eric with their 2014 California
Mid-State Fair Market Hogs
“We were walking by and they asked if we knew
when the concert was,” explained Michael, “and
mom knew who was playing at the grandstand so
we won the tickets.”
“We were so tired from showing and being at
the Fair but we just had to go to the concert. It was
really fun,” added Eric.
And one of Eric’s most memorable Fair moments
is also a piece of good advice, “If you get
lost, meet at the waterfall.”
“I remember walking around with my mom
and grandma and they were right behind me
but then I looked around like two times I couldn’t
find them, but I remembered my mom said to go
to the waterfall if you get lost so I did.”
“I think he was about seven,” said Kim,“ and
we had set that up as our meeting point if anyone
got lost. I think a lot of people use Maynard’s
Mountain and the waterfall for meeting up.”
Eric and Michael agreed that their fondest Fair
memory from when they were little was having
grandma take them to the carnival rides at the Fair.
The Zoo to You shows and Petting Zoos were also
great memories for the Lahargou brothers.
“And the pig races were fun where they
gave them Oreos at the end,” added Michael.
Now both boys agreed Jimmy’s is the place
to be at the Fair and hanging out with their
friends after long days of caring for and showing
their livestock.
Eric’s favorite memory from showing hogs was
making the final drive, top showmen only, during
showmanship.
“And last year, my brother got first in his class
and I got second. We were in the same class
and our hogs weighed exactly the same weight,”
Eric added.
* * *
Both boys have shown rabbits and hogs through
Templeton 4-H and Eric was also very active in
Templeton FFA receiving his Greenhand, Chapter,
State and American Degrees, He was also recently
recognized as a Regional winner and State Finalist
for Diversified Crop Production Entrepreneurship
for his farming of watermelon and forage hay.
He also raises and sells chickens and eggs when
not busy studying at Cal Poly where he is majoring
in Agri-Business.
Little brother Michael also stays busy helping
with the family farming operation. He also competes
in both club and high school volleyball as
well as playing soccer for Templeton High School.
He is about to start his senior year and is looking
to pursue a career in Computer Engineering.
Showing at the California Mid-State Fair started
with mom and dad. Kim showed horses in western
Pleasure and English and exhibited market
sheep. As a proud member of Paso Robles FFA she
showed all four years of high school at both the Salinas
Valley Fair and the California Mid-State Fair.
John hailed from the El Paso de Robles 4-H
Club and showed sheep for three years at the Fair.
He quickly moved from showman to employee
starting work at the California Mid-State Fair when
he was 14 years old.
“I painted the first year, and then planted marigolds,”
recalls John.
John worked his way up from maintenance to
the livestock department and probably can tell
you where every pipe, plug and drain is in the
Livestock area. He has probably repaired them
all too. He also worked with the Horseshow
Department for four or five year and continues
volunteering today.
* * *
During summers of her college years, Kim
was one of the “Fair Office Ladies,” working in
the Livestock Office. She has continued to help
out ever since. And although she and John both
graduated from Paso Robles High School, worked
and showed at the California Mid-State Fair at
the same time and attended West Hills College,
they were not a couple until long after.
The Lahargou family…boys Michael, up top,
and Eric, with John and Kim.
“We were very good friends. I would always
try to set him up with girls and he would always
try to set me up with guys. We were always kind
of protecting each other, looking out for each
other, really just wanting the best for each other,”
explained Kim.
“Then one time he asked me if I wanted to
take country dance lessons and I thought, well
that kind of sounds like fun, and that is when
we started dating,” recalls Kim. “I think he knew
what he was doing,”
John just smiles and has nothing to add to
the story.
Now both boys agree Jimmy’s is the place to
be at the Fair and hanging out with their friends
and doing a little dancing after long days of
caring for and showing their livestock. Who knows
who they might meet there?
Please see LAHARGOU FAMILY page 20
The Mid State Fair Office Girls, circa 1980’s, from left,
Nola Twisselman, JoAnn Switzer, Kim Lahargou,
Vivian Robertson and Ginger Channell.
16 Paso Robles Magazine, July 2014