THIRD

My name is Dan Pearl III. Most of my friends call me “Third” because I am the third Dan and we once all lived in the same house at one time. My Grandmother called my Grandfather “Pearl” my Dad “Dan” and me “Third”. I always liked that name because people would like to call me Danny, or Daniel, and would question me as to if my name was just Dan. My main function in the club is the organizer. Beth tells me where we have to go and I plan and organize how to get us there. My home town is Kenner La. a suburb of New Orleans. If you have ever flown to New Orleans you have been there, it is where the airport is located. I grew up in Detroit and had never heard of 4-H until Beth got our oldest son involved. I now sit on five committees, sheep, sales, rabbit/poultry, horse, and 4-H. 4-H involvement has strengthened the bonds between me and my family. My goal is to spread this experience to as many people as I can, especially to the Afro-American community of Springfield. I have added to this site my favorite photo of my fair experience. The picture shows my daughter Kara holding her Grand Champion rabbit next to her friend Carla holding her second place rabbit. Kara winning has nothing to do with the photo being my favorite. Dr. M.L. King is one of my heroes. One of my favorite lines from his “I Have A Dream Speak” is “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” When I look at that picture, when I see people interact with me and her during the fair I wish I could show Dr. King that here at the Clark County Fair his dream is a reality. I feel if I could just plant that small seed in a few places in Springfield that it would grow all over our nation and strengthen families both black and white. Beth also pointed out some other irony within the photo. The black girl won with a white rabbit and the white girl won with a black rabbit. I told her because of our relationship we are forced to see things like that, but isn’t it wonderful that if you ask Kara and Carla what they see, they see everything except color. They see a friend and memories of “Summer Days and County Ways”