Adult volunteer leaders are essential to Iowa 4-H

Iowa schools and communities are more vibrant and the Iowa 4-H organization exists because more than 14,000 Iowa adults volunteer for Iowa State University Extension’s 4-H Youth Development programs.

When Dan Whitehill combines working with kids and his love of horses, there’s a little more excitement in Farragut. There is no limit to the creative ways Mahaska County’s Joan Boer shares her extensive poultry knowledge and encourages young people to explore new projects. Community service projects that developed communication and leadership skills were important to Sharon Josten when she led a Forest City 4-H club.

“4-H volunteers are essential in making our program happen,” said Chuck Morris, associate director of ISU Extension 4-H Youth Development programs. “Without their time and expertise, it would be impossible for most 4-H programs in Iowa to exist.”

Mahaska County 4-H club leader Joan Boer (at far right, shown with her family) stresses the importance of giving back to the community through service work. She recognizes the value 4-H programs have in strengthening families.

Josten believes that her decision to become a 4-H leader was one of the best she ever made. She sees 4-H as the useful tool that develops young people into successful adults, and she believes in “investing” in youth for the future.

Don Hunt, one of O’Brien County’s beef superintendents and a 4-H leader for more than 30 years, said his volunteer time for 4-H is time well-spent.

“It’s personally rewarding to see 4-H’ers finish the year having worked toward and having met their goals,” Hunt said. “They all get something out of a project, and it sticks with them. They carry that experience and sense of success with them into their adult lives.”

Several things resound across the state as adult 4-H leaders talk about volunteering for ISU Extension. These volunteers have the desire and ability to work with kids; they believe 4-H benefits youth; and being community servants is a natural part of their character.

Karen Heldorfer, a Kossuth County 4-H volunteer, recognizes the rewards of 4-H in her own children and in students at school.

“4-H youth have the ability to get up and speak before a group,” she said. “They set goals and are proud of achieving those goals. They develop confidence in their abilities. Helping kids get excited about learning and setting goals, then watching them reach those goals, is gratifying.”

ISU Extension’s Morris recognizes the countless unpaid hours of service these volunteers provide helping youth reach their goals through 4-H projects, creating fair exhibits and conducting community service efforts.

“Through their volunteer efforts they are modeling for young people the importance of helping others,” said Morris. “It is their support that helps young people achieve success and increase their self confidence.”

It was a club leader that recognized Dan Whitehill as a horse enthusiast and “roped” him into becoming a horse project leader -- 21 years ago.

“Every time I think about throwing in the towel, a youngster comes up to me and says, ‘boy that was fun, I didn’t know that I could do that.’ Or I see an older 4-H’er teaching younger ones because someone took the time to teach him when he was young,” Whitehill said.

Adult 4-H volunteers often go unnamed and unrecognized. But they are active in every county, teaching the skills, providing the encouragement and volunteering their time for the betterment of Iowa’s youth and Iowa’s future.

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