Jordan Murdock

The seventh grader at White River Valley Junior High School had signed up to exhibit in the corn, soybeans, entomology, garden and strawberry projects. He was also raising a boar (meat) goat and swine for showing in the livestock barn arena.

Jordan, a five-year member of the Crop of Clever Clovers 4-H Club, had essentially finished his exhibit projects.

However, a tragic traffic accident on June 25 changed his plans for showing livestock at this year's fair, which gets into full swing Saturday.

The Greene County boy was critically injured June 25 when the farm tractor he was driving was struck by a semi-tractor trailer on State Road 67, north of Worthington.

Murdock's John Deere tractor was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer driven by Royce Huffer, Jr., 56, of Vincennes.

The young boy suffered multiple internal injuries and was transported by Air-Evac helicopter ambulance and remains a patient at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis.

He is improving slowly day by day, according to his dad, John Murdock.

"The goats and the hogs, he won't be able to show," his dad said. "He was looking forward to the summer and being able to go the fair and show. He likes the showmanship part of it more than anything. But he's a lucky little boy and we're just happy that he's in one piece."

Leaders from the 4-H Clubs of Greene County, Inc. decided this week to do something to help out Jordan and his family.

Jordan's project exhibits will be judged on Saturday and will be on display throughout the fair in the Community Building. However, he will not be able to auction his livestock at the sale -- which is traditionally a payoff to the young 4-Her for the hard work he or she has put into raising the animal.

Because Jordan can not participate in the auction, 4-H Clubs of Greene County president Tim Egnew has donated a processed hog and started the idea to sell raffle tickets for the frozen meat, which has been prepared at Bloomfield Processing Company.

"We've also got some pork ribs and pork chops that we're also going to raffle off or take donations for at some of the shows," Egnew said.

All the proceeds will go to the Murdock family to help defray medical expenses for Jordan.

The raffle tickets will be on sale throughout the fair and the winner will be announced at next Friday night's 4-H Livestock Auction that gets under way at 5:30.

The raffle tickets are $1 each or six for $5.

Members of the 2008 Miss Greene County queen's court are also putting together a variety of baked goods, which will also be auctioned at the livestock sale next Friday to benefit the Murdocks.

The court includes queen Amanda Arthur and finalists Jennifer Wilson, Jessica Tharp, and Sadie Davis.

Egnew, who operates a farm near Linton, said it's all just a way to help out the family during this rough time.

"Being rural, all of the kids know him (Jordan) and it's just a good small town thing to do. It makes you think a lot of the kids and adults that they want to help someone out when times are tough," Egnew stressed.

John Murdock said his son is now able to view a laptop computer and keep up with news back home and also reads comments left on a special Web site that has been set up for him by his mother, Holly.

"He reads all of them now himself," his dad said.

The "Caring Bridge" Web site for Jordan is a place for the family to post updates on his progress and interested folks can visit anytime.

Jordan's site has a guestbook where you can sign in and send a message to Jordan and/or to his family.

To visit Jordan's site, go to http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jordan...