Iowa 4-H Alumni & Friends

If one Iowa 4-H club in one county can raise money for a local food bank, why can’t every 4-H club in every county do the same? The idea made sense to the Country Clover 4-H Club in Lucas County , so they’ve challenged every 4-H club in Iowa to make a difference in an effort they call “4-H clubs giving a helping hand against hunger.” “With so many people out of work, donations down and the holidays coming up, your local food banks are going to need help,” Country Clover Club President Josh Ruth wrote in a letter to all Iowa 4-H clubs. Ruth’s club came up with the idea as they were deciding on this year’s community service project. When they learned about the needs facing the local food bank, having their annual pizza party didn’t seem so important. Instead, they decided to donate their pizza money to their local food bank along with other contributions totaling $100. Club leader Tammie Ruth said they also plan to donate proceeds from an upcoming raffle to the food bank. “One of our mem...

Every day we lose 1,000 of them -- some to old age, others to sickness and many who never got to visit the World War II memorial that was built in their honor. However, as these veterans and service men and women from other wars are especially honored throughout November, the Corinth Red Stars 4-H club has made sure one more is given the opportunity. After raising funds through a food stand at the Humboldt County Fair, the Red Stars decided to donate $600 to sponsor a veteran through the Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping American veterans travel free of charge to see their memorial in Washington, D.C. Only later did they realize that the father of one of their leaders also would be signed up for a future flight. “I didn’t know my father was going on an honor flight when the girls started the project. It happened after the plans were already set in motion,” said leader Jana Terwilliger, whose father served stateside during World War II as a driver for ...

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, has announced a $150,000 matching gift pledge to the Iowa 4-H Foundation to support youth programs. This contribution launches the Iowa 4-H Foundation’s President’s Campaign fundraising effort. Bill Tomlinson, Iowa 4-H Foundation board president and Pioneer Hi-Bred production director, states, "4-H makes a positive impact on our communities and youth through programs that support agriculture, benefit youth and impact education. We are proud to support the 4-H programs across the state that help create the next generation of active citizens and community leaders.” As part of the President’s Campaign, Pioneer will match contributions to the Iowa 4-H Foundation dollar for dollar up to $150,000 during Bill Tomlinson’s tenure as Iowa 4-H Foundation board president. His term runs through September 2010. DONATE NOW

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama may know him as the Ambassador at Large to Combat Trafficking in Persons, but Story County fairgoers remember Luis C. deBaca as “Louie,” a Huxley teenager in Wranglers and a cowboy hat, who was never afraid of a microphone during Family Fun Day activities at Christy Hall, the fairgrounds or Inspiration Night at Gates Hall in Nevada. In the early 1980s, 4-H’er Louie de Baca was known for mixing traditional activities for a farm boy with other endeavors such as stained glass and baking. So, when the chance came up to take the biennial trip to Washington D.C., de Baca jumped at the chance. On the Washington Citizenship trip, Story County 4-H’ers met club members from other states, studied the legislative process and toured monuments, memorials and museums. In meetings with Iowa’s Congressional delegation, Louie represented the group and presented the Representatives and Senators with a handcrafted stained glass 4-H emblem. I...

Crop producers who want to support Iowa 4-H Youth Development have another option besides writing a check or donating cash. They can give the gift of grain. Giving grain is a viable option for donating to the 4-H program through the Iowa 4-H Foundation, said Albert Grunenwald, the foundation’s associate director. Self-employed farmers who donate grain to the Iowa 4-H Foundation not only benefit youth across the state, but also reduce their self-employment tax and increase their income tax savings, Grunenwald explained. “Giving grain can save farmers as much as 49 percent of the donation amount. For example, a grain donation worth $1,000 could save farmers an extra $490 because they gave grain in place of cash,” he said. For specific instructions on how to donate grain to support 4-H, contact Grunenwald at (515) 294-4780 or abgrunen@iastate.edu.

Every 4-Her has a great story to tell – and we want to hear it! Send a maximum of 500 words or a 5 minute video about your 4-H story and have a chance to win two tickets to the ISU vs. Baylor football game on October 17! Entries must be sent to iowa4h@iastate.edu and are accepted through October 2nd. Winner will be named during National 4-H Week.

Stitch This! is a 16 hour competition among Iowa high-school youth to deconstruct a wedding dress into another wearable garment. Each group is judged on creativity, teamwork, workmanship, and presentation. The Runway show will take place tomorrow, August 22 at 7:30 PM in the 4-H Building. Here are the groups with the dresses that were randomly selected. We will be streaming Stitch This! live at www.tinyurl.com/4hstitchthis.