Calvin Taylor, Bridget Taylor, Laura Schrader, Savannah Day, Kristine Pierce, Rebekah Schrader, Lydia Schrader, Mark Haugen, Kari Pierce, Neka Davis, Kristina Carpenter, Patti Schrader, Sandy Pierce, Hannah Arvik and Courtney Pilkey went to Wadena to assist with cleaning up the fairgrounds.

4-H kids help clean up Wadena tornado

More than 50 volunteers answered the call to help clean up debris flung around the Wadena County fairgrounds by a tornado that destroyed multiple buildings in June.

Mark Haugen, Hubbard County 4-H Program Coordinator, reached out to all county 4-H club members and families to help clean up after 80 mile per hour winds scattered debris.

"4-H families are extremely busy in the summer," he said. "But even on short notice I know that if they can help, they will."

Fifteen members of various 4-H clubs in Hubbard County joined groups from Wadena, Todd, Becker, Crow Wing and Ottertail counties to help prepare for the fair. The 4-Hers picked up branches from fallen trees, insulation and building materials from collapsed buildings as well as glass from broken windows.

After cleaning up the fairground the 4-Hers toured other areas of Wadena damaged by the storm.

"It's so sad," said Sandy Pierce, of the Laporte Comets 4-H club as she rode almost silently with a carload of helpers through a residential area.

Marcia Woeste, 4-H Regional Extension Educator, said, "This is an opportunity for youth to give back to their 4-H neighbors that have experienced a devastating loss of facilities."

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