Alumni Spotlight: Tom Nicholson

“I am honored and excited to become the new president of the Iowa 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees,” said our January Alum of the Month, Tom Nicholson. Nicholson was a member of the Center Trail Blazers 4-H Club in Calhoun County where he served on Calhoun County Council and State 4-H Youth Council. He also attended many State 4-H Conferences and National 4-H Conference.

“Through 4-H, I developed a passion for raising and showing livestock and gained other valuable skills in leadership, communication and teamwork that I’ve been able to apply in my personal life and throughout my professional career,” said Nicholson. “My 4-H experience has provided me an opportunity to meet and share a common interest with many leaders in agriculture and other industries.”

Nicholson has served on the Iowa 4-H Foundation board for five years. In October 2015, he was chosen by his peers to be the newest Iowa 4-H Foundation Board President. Nicholson believes that the Iowa 4-H Foundation is committed to providing opportunities for youth development and supporting 4-H programs throughout the state. “The Board of Trustees is a highly motivated and talented group of individuals who share the values and core principles of 4-H and are committed to ensuring its sustainability for generations to come,” said Nicholson.

Today, Nicholson owns his own company, Passport Food Safety LLC in Indianola, Iowa. He is also a Warren County 4-H parent and believes that he has had the good fortune to observe his son and daughter enjoying many of the same opportunities that 4-H provided him.

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Alumni Spotlight: Julie (Wolterman) Burroughs

From State Fair Queen to baby food producer, our December Alum of the Month has used the skills gained from her 4-H experience to propel herself to success. Julie (Wolterman) Burroughs was a member of the Garfield All-Stars 4-H Club for nine years in Ida County. Some of her projects included; showing cattle, quilting, knitting, woodworking, child development and much more. She also participated in Clothing Selection, Fashion Revue and 4-H Council. Julie’s favorite 4-H memory was when she was crowned the 1993 Iowa State Fair Queen. “The competition was such a valuable experience and my year as Queen, representing Iowa, was phenomenal,” said Burroughs. “The opportunity was such an honor and defined my 4-H experience.” Burroughs went on to coordinate the Iowa State Fair Queen Competition of 14 years. Another fond 4-H memory Burroughs has is showing livestock. “I loved the energy and sense of community on livestock show day. The entire Club worked together to get the...

Alumni Spotlight: Lindsay Mickelson

When one thinks of 4-H, they might not jump to music. However, 4-H allows youth to develop skills that help in areas of creativity and performance. Lindsay Mickelson was a Dayton Tiger 4-H’er from Webster County. Involved in several project areas, she loved to show pigs at county and State Fair, cattle for a couple years, photography, baking and Share the Fun. “I have so many great memories from 4-H. From playing cards in the cattle barns with friends to earning trophies for raising a fine-looking pig,” says Mickelson. “Fair time was always my favorite time of year because it combined my two favorite things: hanging out with friends and tending to the animals. I can remember the first year when I started 4-H, we had our calves so tame we would lay on them in the barn, just because they would let us. Half the time the calves couldn’t care less, as long as they had food and water, they were happy.” Mickelson identifies 4-H as a steppingstone growing up, teaching her how t...

Alumni Spotlight: Ann Staudt

Floyd County 4-H alum Ann Staudt never sought to be a small business owner. Back in 2003, while pursuing her chemical engineering degree, a community education class focused on DIY herbal bath + body products caught her eye. “The art and science, the alchemy and aromatherapy … it was truly a whole new world of possibilities. Needless to say, I was hooked,” says Staudt. “While some of the early seeds were planted in my farm girl formative years (you’re looking at a 4-H Grand Champion herb gardener!), this new concept of using herbs and essential oils in handcrafted body care products filled me with such intrigue.” From there, she set up a mini lab with a hot plate in her dorm room and took over her mom’s kitchen during summer break. After researching, formulating, and crafting, Siberian Soap Co. officially launched in 2010. As a 4-H’er, Staudt was involved in communications, horticulture, photography, visual arts, food and nutrition and everything in between. She was a member of t...

Iowa 4-H Alumni & Friends

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