LETTER: Reality Fair for local eighth-graders a success

The second-annual eighth-grade Reality Fair was held Monday, Feb. 3 in the Community Building at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. The committee started meeting in August of 2024 to rethink areas where we could improve and present an even stronger program.

There were over 400 students representing Cloverdale, Eminence, Greencastle, North Putnam and South Putnam middle schools. Approximately 90 minutes was allocated for students to rotate through 15 stations. For example: Marital status, family size, housing and basic needs like food, clothing, furniture and transportation to name a few.

For those who may not remember, this program is a hands-on activity for students to start thinking about their futures. It specifically focuses on determining financial resources they will need to accommodate their desired lifestyles and the value of education in being able to obtain well-paying jobs that will support those chosen lifestyles. Students learn a life lesson when realizing there is not enough money to meet all their monthly expenses, meaning a second job must be secured.

This activity helped students learn basic skills in financial planning, goal setting, decision making and complemented those learning experiences in career planning.

Without our wonderful community volunteers and the generous donations this event would not have been possible. Thank you to Kiwanis Club of Greencastle, Greencastle Rotary Club, the Putnam County Community Foundation, Lions Club of Greencastle, the Putnam County Fair Board, Keystone Cooperative, Putnam County Hospital, Jim Graves of Niagara Bottling Company, Everwise Credit Union, Pizza King of Bainbridge, Monical’s Pizza, JD Sims and Area 30 Career Center Digital Design and Interactive Media students and Ivy Tech Community College.

The steering committee worked diligently for six months updating and rethinking the program. Many thanks for your dedication: Paula Fry (Keystone), Karen Nelson Heavin (Heavin Career Counseling), Brooke Trissel (Putnam County Hospital), Renee Marsteller (PC Juvenile Probation), Megan Wager (Everwise), Austin Malayer (PC Prosecutor), Cheryl Thomas (Re-Max Real Estate), Sarah Stone and Jenny Newrighter (PC Community Foundation), Jared Jernagan (Rotary), Tom Sutherlin (Putnam County Sheriff’s Office), Tammy Eastham (PC Animal Care), Tammy Keenan (Ivy Tech), Carl Singer (Greencastle Kiwanis) Karen Martoglio, (League of Women Voters) and LT Taylor (Greencastle Lions Club).

We are grateful to work alongside so many wonderful individuals. They spent the day interacting and encouraging students about the importance of budgeting and financial stability: Allison Leer, Ginger Scott, Chase Abdon, Robert Cantonwine, Amy Clark, Howard Thomas, Tyler Cox, Stacy Barkley, Lucy and Bill Wieland, Jana and Bill Brothers, Mallory Horn, Dylan Crum, Ella Tischer, Penny Cummings, JD Sims, Barb Boese, Teresa Goddard, Brian Cook, Paul Champion, Dustin Commings, Mary Zerkel, Ken Heeke, Jana Pettit, Stacey Turner, Bryce Hickman, Annette Hoopingarner, Marcia Murtagh, Jason Hartman, Erin Mullin, Jacqui Ellis, Rhoda Alexander, Jennifer Rumple, Bill Merkel, Lezley Wass, Bruce Stinebrickner, Dean Gambill, Mary Looper, Elizabeth Kienzynski, Brandi Monnett, Trisha Vanhorn, Kylee Clodfelter, Angie Shea, Samantha Richardson, Darcy Stahl, Tiffany Friars, Kim Fidler, Bill Dory, Steve Custis, Dara Robinson, Becky Gross, Britney Tincher, Lauren Cutschlag, Chris Wurster, Shelody Birkheimer, Jana Higgins, Jenny Rutledge, JR Scott, Sue McCune, Linda Raines, Fischer Barcus, Amanda Laney, Martha Opdahl, Rita Schindler, Becca Moore and Josh Clark.

Plans for the 2026 eighth-grade reality fair will begin in August of this year. If you would like to join our team and be a part of something educational, positive,and with lots of excitement, please connect with us.

Linda Merkel and Alan Zerkel

Reality Fair Co-Chairs 2025