Bio: Steiner, Francis (Citizen of the Year 1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Steiner, Garbisch

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (08 September 1983)

GRANTON -- The man often referred to as "Mr. Granton" will be honored as Granton's Citizen of the year.

Francis Steiner, vocational agriculture instructor at Granton High School and originator of the Granton Fall Festival - being held for the 33rd time Friday through Sunday -- was selected by the Granton Rotary Club.

Steiner, a Granton teacher for 35 years, was born and attended school in Mauston. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and has been teaching at Granton ever since.

This year, Steiner was honored as the outstanding agriculture instructor in the state by his fellow instructors. In national competition, he was selected as one of the top six instructors in the country. In December, he and his wife, Jeanette, will fly to California to receive the award.

Since Steiner started the annual Fall Festival, it has grown to be one of the largest area festivals. He has been chairman and secretary of the show each year.

This past spring, Steiner received another honor when the Wisconsin Livestock Breeders selected him as one of the top three livestock promoters in the state. He is active in fairs and livestock shows through out the area and the Granton FFA organization, which he advises, has consistently been recognized as a top chapter.

In addition to his school and fall festival responsibilities, Steiner has been vice president of the Clark County Fair Board for 25 years and is secretary of the Northwest Junior Livestock Show in Eau Claire. He judges at county fairs, speaks at banquets throughout the state and is a state seed inspector. Steiner attends St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Chili, where he is religious education coordinator and a lector. He also belongs to the Knights of Columbus, Granton Rotary Club, Loyal American Legion and the Granton Park Board.

The Steiner's have five children: Mrs. Orville Garbisch, Granton; Greg, White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Kevin, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Sheila, Marshfield; and Ann, Granton.

Steiner and his wife will ride in the Fall Festival parade Sunday.