BOONE, Iowa—Volunteers are the backbone of the Boone County 4-H program. Adult 4-H volunteers were recognized at 4-H Awards Day held on Sunday, November 11th at the Community Building at the Boone County Fairgrounds.
Dawn Schmidt was the recipient of the 4-H Alumni Award. Dawn Schmidt started the Town and Country Pioneers 4-H Club in 2009. As a 4-H club leader, Dawn strives to teach and motivate youth while nurturing their self-esteem, decision making, responsibility and leadership skills. In addition to being a club leader, Dawn served on the Youth Committee for 3 years where she started coordinating the Boone County Fair Herdsmanship program. She would continue to coordinate that program for the next 18 years. Dawn Schmidt works at the Extension Office where she serves as the Office Assistant and Bookkeeper. As part of her Extension Staff role, Dawn also works with the Horse Committee that plans the Boone County Fair Horse Shows.
The Friend of 4-H Award was presented to Cheryl Tevis-Lingren. Cheryl Tevis-Lingren’s involvement in 4-H started early, as a 4-H member who enjoyed many sewing and baking projects. Through her experiences in 4-H, she gained valuable skills including taking the initiative to finish a project and serving her community to the best of her abilities. She has taken these skills to impact her current community and 4-H program. As a 4-H mom, she did an excellent job of helping her daughters and their fellow 4-H’ers realize all the avenues they could take within 4-H. As a 4-H club leader of the Bluff Creek Wranglers for 14 years, she has helped encourage club members to take on and lead multiple club citizenship projects, including caroling at local nursing homes, landscaping at a local church and holding book drives for local youth. Her leadership has really allowed club members to see just how large of an impact they can make on their communities. Cheryl has also served on the Boone County Extension Council for 27 years, providing excellent leadership in steering the direction of the 4-H program.
Cheryl Tevis-Lingren, Friend of 4-H recipient
The Meritorious Service to 4-H Award was presented to the Boone County Community Endowment Fund. For many years, the Boone County Community Endowment Fund has financially supported Boone County 4-H families through improvements to the Boone County Fairgrounds and the Boone County ISU Extension & Outreach Office. The Boone County Community Endowment Fund helped fund the addition of the Beef Pen of 3 Barn in 2014. After the addition of this new barn, our Beef Pen of 3 program has grown and last year we were able to add the new Herd Builder division which was housed in the same barn.
In 2016, when the Boone County ISU Extension Office moved to the new building, the Boone County Community Endowment Fund supported the purchase of a new telephone system where Boone County 4-H’ers and volunteers could call 4-H Staff directly and leave direct messages. This helped improve communication efficiency to 4-H families and volunteers.
For the last couple years, the Boone County Community Endowment Fund has generously supported the repainting and carpeting of the Extension Office meeting room, added new slimmer tables with wheels for easier moving and new chairs for educational programs and club meetings where lots of people present.
Mike Tungesvik, representing the Boone County Community Endowment Fund as the 4-H Meritorious Service Award recipient
A highlight of the 4-H Awards Day program is the presentation of the Fran Thompson Memorial Outstanding Leader Award. This year’s recipient was Diane Ostendorf. Diane has been a dedicated leader of the Madrid Merry Makers 4-H club for 13 years, a 4-H parent and member before that. She works tirelessly to try innovative new ideas to keep 4-Hers involved and interested. Diane believes in teaching the values and skills 4-H is built around and instills the 4-H values into everything she does. Diane goes above and beyond her position as a club leader. She volunteers for 4-H events, fills in when more people are needed, and helps kids with their projects and record books one-on-one. 4-H is a top priority for Diane as she gets to see first-hand how positively the program influences the youth in her community. A lot of work goes into being a great 4-H leader. Diane spends countless hours researching ideas, gathering supplies, sending out agendas and reminders, and testing new activities to keep kids engaged and enjoying 4-H.
Diane Ostendorf, Outstanding 4-H Leader Award given in memory of Fran Thompson. Pictured with Diane is Sharyn Nelson, daughter of Fran Thompson. Back Left is Eric Nelson and back right is Jeff Nelson, grandsons of Fran Thompson.
During the awards ceremony Vicki Heiller, representing the Iowa 4-H Foundation, presented Award of the Clover pins to nine 4-H volunteers. Two thirty year Ruby pins were awarded to Kim Bengtson and Tom Kauffman. One twenty-five year Emerald pin was awarded to Dennis Lynch. One fifteen year pearl pins were awarded to Chris Swanson. Two ten year gold pins were awarded to Jeremiah Haub and Kim Rhodes. Three five year silver pins were awarded to Michelle Crocheck, Ed Keenan and Christy Smith.
Front Row (L to R): Kim Bengtson and Chris Swanson
Back Row (L to R): Kim Rhodes, Christy Smith and Michelle Crocheck.
Not Pictured: Ed Keenan, Jeremiah Haub, Dennis Lynch and Tom Kauffman
During the Awards Day program, members of the Boone County 4-H Youth Committee presented 4-H member awards as well and recognized 4-H club leaders. Sixteen youth were installed as members of the 2018 – 2019 County 4-H Council.
2018-2019 Boone County 4-H Council
If you are interested in learning more about how to volunteer with the 4-H program, please contact the Boone County ISU Extension & Outreach office at (515) 432-3882.
(contributed article and photos, Boone County 4-H)
