Continuing Education and
Communication Services
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
9/17/01
Contacts:
Mitch Hoyer, 4-H Youth Development, (515) 294-1607, mhoyer@iastate.edu
Tracy S. Petersen, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)
294-9915
Stakey Receives 4-H Alumni Recognition
AMES, Iowa -- Shirley Stakey, Stratford, received a State 4-H Alumni Recognition Aug. 8 at the Iowa State Fair. The award honors former 4-H members for their service to 4-H, community leadership, public service and success in their careers. The Iowa State Fair Board also presented Stakey with a plaque for her 26 years as superintendent of the 4-H Exhibit Building.
Stakey has been a state 4-H program specialist from 1977 until her retirement Sept. 14. During her tenure she has overseen the state 4-H award recognition process, state judges training, the Iowa State Fair 4-H Exhibit Building, and many other programs and areas. She also served as a county extension 4-H and youth leader in Webster and Hamilton counties. Stakey began her career as an extension home economist in Cass and later Adams counties.
As a youth she was a delegate to the National 4-H Conference. Among the many honors she has received during her professional career are the Jerry Parsons 4-H Youth Professional Award, the Iowa State University (ISU) Alumni Association Superior Service Award, the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Distinguished Service and American Spirit awards and the ISU Carroll Ringgenberg Award. The Iowa 4-H Foundation annually sponsors the Stakey 4-H Scholarship in her honor.
"Shirley wrote the book on what it takes to be a team player," said Chuck Morris, associate director of 4-H youth programs at Iowa State University in presenting the alumni recognition. "She has an uncanny ability to imagine what 4-H can be and then to make it happen."
Stakey credited her early 4-H experience in guiding her career. "As a youth member the 4-H program opened doors to many new growth opportunities and experiences, which led to my decision to attend ISU and to pursue a career in extension," Stakey said. "My extension career at the county and state level continued to provide professional growth and new opportunities. The rewards include my many co-workers and the youth and adults I've met and worked with."
In her community, Stakey previously was a member of the Stratford Community Development Corporation and served as president of the Stratford Community School Board. She is an active member of the Lutheran church and was a board member and treasurer of the Western Iowa Synodical Lutheran Church Women.
She and husband Marvin Stakey are the parents of two children, Doran Stakey of Kamrar and Lori Grimoskas of Tipton, both of whom are former 4-H members. They have five grandchildren, three of whom are currently involved in 4-H.
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Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.