Ann Stillman of Emmetsburg was inducted into the 2009 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 23rd. The award recognizes inductees for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H. Inductees or their surviving family members were presented a plaque by the Iowa 4-H Foundation as they were introduced on stage.
Ann served 13 years on the fair board and for several years served as treasurer of the board. She also served on the Palo Alto County Extension Council for four years, and was secretary all four years.
A 4-H leader for 18 years, Ann served 15 of those years as a leader of the Freedom Busy Bees 4-H Club. This club was the first in Palo Alto County to have a membership enrollment of 36 members and only two leaders.
In 1976-77, Ann served as membership chairman and Vice President of the Palo Alto County 4-H Foundation. During this time the organization tripled in membership and raised $5,000 to help the 4-H program to assist 4-H members in the county and to begin construction of a new 4-H Exhibits Building.
In 1978-79 Ann served as President of the 4-H Foundation and raised $4,000 to defray debt on the newly constructed “Girls” 4-H Building.
Ann’s accomplishments include: past President of the Palo Alto County Youth Action Program where she served six years; seven years on the Palo Alto County 4-H Youth Committee; and an achievement show judge for the county.
Throughout the years at the Palo Alto County Fair, Ann assisted judges with various exhibits and served as general supervisor. In 1972 she was chairman of the style show. She judged 4-H record books on the county, district and state levels and for two years served on the ten-county area interview committees for the state 4-H officers’ nominee selection.
The Stillman family has hosted several 4-H Japan Labo Exchange students and in 1982 Ann was one of two people in Iowa selected as a chaperone for one month to Japan through the 4-H Labo Exchange Program. The Stillmans also hosted a student through the Youth for Understanding program.
Ann also served three years as the Palo Alto County Farm Bureau President and served three years as the Palo Alto County Farm Bureau delegate. Ann served as President of the Palo Alto County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee.
More recently Ann has been a volunteer group guide for EPAK (Educational Partners – Agriculture and Kids), an ag environment program that is held each year at the fairgrounds and that is attended by all the 4th graders in the county. Palo Alto County is proud and fortunate to have Ann as a part of their 4-H community.
Counties select inductees for their exceptional work in contributing to the lives of 4-H members and the overall 4-H program. Many inductees served as club leaders, youth mentors, fair superintendents or fair board members, Extension council members, county youth council members, fair judges, financial supporters, chaperones or Iowa State University (ISU) Extension staff members. The inductees have demonstrated dedication, encouragement, commit-ment, and guidance to Iowa’s 4-Hers through the years.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for the counties and state to recognize and celebrate 4-H volunteers and staff who have shown outstanding service and dedication to Iowa's 4-H program," said Chuck Morris, ISU Extension 4-H Youth Development interim director.