Arminda Hershberger, 17, of Cassopolis (The Daily News/John Eby)

By JOHN EBY

Dowagiac Daily News

CASSOPOLIS — Not only does Arminda Hershberger share a name with the Arminda M. Mesko Memorial Award for grand champion cake exhibitor at the Cass County Fair, she lives in her house.

That’s because Arminda Mesko was her great-grandmother.

Before the cake award was named for her, Mrs. Mesko’s claim to fame was being the fair’s first grand marshal in 1981.

Arminda’s father, Kevin, carries on the family tradition of serving on the fair association board.

Her mother, the former Jill Mesko, works for the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

And the Hershbergers live in Arminda’s farmhouse on Kelsey Lake Street.

Jim Mesko said his mother has been gone since January, 1992, so his granddaughter, born in June 1993, has no recollection of her.

But she’s proud to be named for her.

Arminda’s brother, Andy, who turns 20 Sept. 20, was born in 1990 and 2 when she died.

“He was always a good little boy, and she loved having him come,” Jim recalled Monday.

Keeping the farm in the family to Mesko means, “I started out storing hay in that barn when I was a little kid. I’m still doing it, better than 60 years. I was even able to help last year after being sick with cancer.”

Arminda earns straight A’s in school and will be dual enrolled at Southwestern Michigan College for her senior year at Ross Beatty High School.

At the fair, she shows dairy feeder steers and lambs.

“Every year I try to do something different,” Arminda said of her baking. “One year I did German chocolate, another year I did a marble cake and I didn’t get anything, so I thought I’d try something simple” — chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, made from scratch.

Arminda’s wearing a Neighborhood Gang T-shirt.

Another Mesko daughter and Arminda’s aunt, Karen Wright, leads her 4-H club.