Meddie Sego Family Fund – Unrestricted

The Meddie Sego Family Fund was established in December of 2023 by family to honor the life of their family patriarch.  This unrestricted fund is available to meet the ongoing needs and challenges of the Newton County Community as the JNF Board directs with attention given to the organizations that were important to Meddie Sego and his family, like 4-H and Purdue Extension Programs.

To learn more about this amazing man and family please enjoy a short excerpt from the following article:

Bertsch, Maynard. “Family Love and Devotion: Segos Find It Key to Harmonious Living.” Prairie Farmer, Indiana Edition, 7 Mar. 1953.

PRAIRIE FARMER has often stressed the importance of family life where parents and their children work for a common goal- a comfortable home and a never-ending interest in the welfare of one another.

We know there are many such families throughout Prairie Farmer Land that cherish our finest Christian traditions, but perhaps there is none that sets a better example than the Sego family who live on a Newton County, Ind., farm.

Meddie Sego, father of nine Sego boys and girls kept his family together on the old home place where he has lived since he was six years old.  Shortly after the youngest daughter was born, Mrs. Sego became very ill.

Mrs. Sego sensed that death was at hand.  She whispered to her devoted husband, saying, “Meddie, keep the children together and give them a Christian education.”

Meddie was left alone with nine children; children he loved and wanted to be with as long as possible.  He also has to take care of the farm.  His task was a big one.

Meddie got the children together around the table for a little conference, explaining the problems ahead.  His wisdom sounded the keynote so many families miss.

“If we all work together for each other and a common goal we will succeed,” he said, “but if we start pulling against one another, we’ll fall apart.”

The children took the cue.  They wanted to stay together and assume their share of the family load.

The article goes on to tell the story of each of the children and their accomplishments during their life together.  The community of Kentland, Rural Youth, and 4-H clubs are attributed to be the biggest influences in the lives of the Sego children.  Meddie and his adult children are pictured below from the front cover of Prairie Farmer.

Donations to the Meddie Sego Family Fund are being matched $2 to $1 through the GIFT VIII Initiative from Lilly Endowment because it is an unrestricted fund benefiting all of Newton County, Indiana.