Iowa 4-H Alumni & Friends

The Iowa 4-H Foundation will be hosting an open house reception in honor of C.J. Gauger's 100th birthday . When: Saturday, March 8 Time: 10:30 AM - 12 PM Where: Green Hills Retirement Community  Ames, IA Parking will be available at nearby ISU Foundation. There will be a van to shuttle guests to and from the parking area to Green Hills. Please refer to the map below and look for signs and volunteers to direct you when you arrive. We invite you to share a card with C.J. highlighting  your  4-H story and/or the impact 4-H has had on your  life. Cards and gifts can also be sent to the Iowa 4-H Foundation at: Iowa 4-H Foundation Attn: CJ's 100th Extension 4-H Youth Building Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011

On March 6, 2014, we celebrate the 100th birthday of a true 4-H icon, C.J. Gauger. C.J. Gauger was born in Giard, Iowa on March 6, 1914. Giard was a wide spot in the road in Clayton County. He had a sister, Marie, who was 10 years older and a brother, William, who was 1 ½ years older.  C.J. and his siblings have all lived long lives. Marie died at 109 and William was 93. His parents were Albert, a Methodist minister, and Lydia.  The family was living in Holstein in 1931 when Gauger graduated from high school. He said he didn’t do all that well in school, that he was ranked 13 th out of 27 in his class. The day after graduation, the bank in Holstein went bankrupt. These were the depression days.  After graduating, Gauger went to Rudd, Iowa, to live with his father’s sister and her husband, Martha and Ed. He called Rudd “home” for 4 years and he said in the years he was there, he received his real education through participating in 4-H. He was “allowed” to b...