A 25-year veteran organizer of the Butler Farm Show is retiring after this year's event.

Jim Lokhaiser wears many hats for the farm show: filling roles in marketing, advertising, office management and groundskeeping. At 83 years old, he thinks this is the year to hang up all of those hats and retire.

“I don't move as much as I used to or as quickly as I used to,” Lokhaiser said. “I've just decided that 83 is the time to move aside and let a younger person move in and take over.”

As a paid employee, Lokhaiser works at the grounds year-round. When it isn't farm show time, he's managing various rentals of the property throughout the year.

Ken Metrick, another longtime show organizer, said Lokhaiser can be found at the grounds even in the middle of the winter.

“He's always here taking the garbage out, cleaning up,” Metrick said. “He's here unlocking the door in the winter for 4-H to hold its meetings.”

But of course, it's all about the farm show. Lokhaiser said the show is like the Super Bowl for 4-H groups, and it's the culmination of a year of work for him.

Lokhaiser was born and raised in Butler. He didn't grow up with farming, but found it later in life.

“He doesn't have an agriculture background,” Metrick said from the seat of a tractor at his farm. “But he really grew into it.”

Today, Lokhaiser rattles off facts about the farm show like he grew up raising cattle.

This year's show will host 1,331 animals, Lokhaiser said. Dairy farmers are struggling with high production costs and low milk prices, Lokhaiser said, and it's translating to lower participation in dairy-centric fairs. Chickens returned to the show last year after a couple of years of virus scares prevented their participation, he said.

Still, sometimes his urbanized upbringing shines. Lokhaiser said he “knew nothing about farming” when he started.

“I see these kids leading livestock that are way taller than them, way up over their heads,” he said. “I'd be scared to death to do that.”

Carol Miller, one of the show's directors, described Lokhaiser as the “general manager” of the whole event.

“He really does more than people know,” Miller said. “He's behind the scenes, but he's also the face of the show.”

And indeed, his job entails more than counting sheep — Lokhaiser worked with the show's board and directors to oversee various capital improvements over the last several years. Most recently, they replaced the roof of one of the exhibit buildings.

He's seen work go on for years on things like grandstands, bathrooms and roofs, he said.

“These buildings are in as good of shape as they've ever been,” Lokhaiser said.

A replacement for Lokhaiser has not been chosen, but board members are starting to look, Metrick said. Lokhaiser said he will stay on through the end of the year or until they find a replacement.

From there, all he asks is to get let back inside.

“I want a pass every year to get into the show,” Lokhaiser said, chuckling. “That's all I ask.”

Miller, who has formed a dynamic duo of sorts with Lokhaiser since she joined the farm show team in 2002, is not looking forward to losing her partner.

“I don't think he can be replaced,” Miller said. “He's the glue that holds us all together.”