New Youth Program Specialist

Peter Morhardt is the Youth Program Specialist for Clinton and Scott Counties in Region 16 for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Most recently, Peter was the Youth Development Educator for Bond, Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, and Washington Counties in South Central Illinois with University of Illinois (U of I) Extension. Prior to that, he was an Extension Program Coordinator for 4-H Youth Development in Jo Daviess County, also with U of I Extension.

He was a twelve year 4-H member of the Top-Notchers 4-H Club in Jo Daviess County. During his 4-H career, he held every office from President to Reporter in the club, and was involved in a wide array of projects, from Dairy Cattle to Foods to Aerospace to Leadership and Citizenship. As a Jo Daviess County 4-H Federation member (similar to the county 4-H Council), he held the offices of Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter, and Recreation Chair.  Peter was also active in FFA in high school, being one of two students to approach the school board to reinstate the Ag program and the FFA chapter during his sophomore year.  He held the offices of Secretary and Reporter during his 3 years of FFA.

Morhardt is a 1998 graduate of River Ridge High School.  After that, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where he graduated in 2003 with a B.S. in Animal Science with emphases in Science and Dairy.  After working on the family farm and substitute teaching for a couple of years, he attended the University of Illinois to pursue a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Education. He completed the degree in December 2007, and started with U of I Extension the following summer.

Peter was raised on a family dairy farm just south of Elizabeth, IL, where his parents still farm today. He has two younger brothers, one niece and one nephew.  He is excited to be much closer to home, where he can have more interaction with his family, and still be able to work with his passions in life, cattle (dairy specifically), and 4-H!!