Dave Leatherman This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. HeraldNet: In touch with farm roots

   www.heraldnet.com/stories/04/0 - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/25/2004   Last Visited: 8/25/2004

   For decades, Dave Leatherman has dedicated himself to agriculture and children.
   
   Why?
   
   "We all have to eat," said Leatherman, 55, of Stanwood.
   
   "It's a joy. Kids are the future," the agriculture teacher said Monday at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, where students were decorating their animal pens for the fair, which opens tomorrow.
   
   Leatherman is this year's "fair honoree," the fair's top award to a volunteer. Leatherman has been on the fair's volunteer advisory board since 1990.
   
   "They couldn't have chosen a better person," said Russell Dean, who also is on the board and has known Leatherman for about 30 years.
   ...
   Leatherman, who started showing animals at age 10 as a 4-H member, has helped generations of children with animal showing at the fair.
   ...
   Even though the fair has added numerous entertainment activities, it's still primarily an educational event to help people understand agriculture, said Leatherman, who teaches agriculture at Arlington High School and Weston High School, an alternative high school in Arlington.
   
   "Our population is so far away from agriculture," he said.
   
   Leatherman is easy to approach and willing to answer any questions, said Stephanie Newbre, 15, who will be a sophomore at Arlington High School this fall.
   ...
   Leatherman said he has seen many students learn to be responsible and build self-esteem through their interaction with animals.
   
   Dedicated volunteers such as Leatherman keep the fair's agricultural roots alive, said Mark Campbell, the fair's manager.
   ...
   Leatherman, who has participated in the fair for more than 40 years, said the fair draws a diverse group of farmers and ranchers offering something for anyone - including himself - to learn.
   
   Leatherman keeps about 50 head of sheep at his 22-acre ranch north of Stanwood.
   ...
   Dave Leatherman greets Evergreen State Fair marketing director Elizabeth Grant at the fairgrounds on Monday.
   ...
   Leatherman has been awarded the fair's top honor for volunteers.