Gloria Bonnin and her daughter, April VanGheem, have been taking care of the antiques at the Shawano County Fair for five years. They have been entering their antiques at the fair for 18 years and for several year have gone to Gold Rush Days in Minnesota, a large four-day antique fest.
Gloria Bonnin was born in the town of Hartland and graduated from Bonduel High School. She married Leland Bonnin; they farmed in the town of Hartland where she still lives. They were married 47 years until his death in 2006. She then rented the farm to her son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Shawan, and sold it to them two years ago. Bonnin has three other children and four grandchildren. She was a leader of the Bit & Bridle 4-H Club for several years. Bonnin works part time at the Antique Mall at Doc’s Harley Davidson and is a chief inspector for the town of Hartland elections.
April VanGheem is a Bonduel native, graduating from Bonduel High School. She worked at the hospital, a supper club and the golf course. VanGheem was the church organist at St. John’s Church of Christ in Cecil. She has been married to Dale VanGheem for 34 years. They farmed for 33 years and for the last few years have been raising young stock. They live in Bonduel and have two children. VanGheem has been involved in 4-H for 31 years with the Bit & Bridle 4-H Club and the Country Korner 4-H Club. At their farm, VanGheem goes all out decorating for the holidays. She works part time at the Antique Mall at Doc’s Harley Davidson.
Q How did you get started helping in the antique area at the fair?
Gloria: “We’ve shown and taken antiques for years. When the previous woman wanted to quit, the fair board approached us and asked if we wanted to do it. We wanted to work together. That’s the only way we wanted to do it.”
April: We thought about it for a long time. There’s a lot of value in there. It’s a big job.”
Q What do you do?
Gloria: “We have to check in all the antiques on entry day, Wednesday. We have to be there for the judging on Thursday. We get everything in its right category for the judges. Then we display it so it looks nice and place it so people can see it. We have to watch throughout the fair so it is supervised when the building is open. April spends more time there than I do.”
April: “We take turns watching each other’s exhibits in the building. People ask questions how they can enter. We answer questions for all the other classes if we can.”
Q How do you find the mystery antique?
Gloria: “We have to find something every year. We have to know what it is. We do some strong looking and have gone to museums to borrow something. Sometimes we purchase them. This year April bought it.”
Q Why do you help?
Gloria: “Because I like antiques. I have a lot of them and I enjoy displaying them at the fair. We learn from the ones we take and the ones other people bring in.”
April: “I enjoy seeing what comes through. It’s a learning experience.”
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