Iowa 4-H Alumni & Friends

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...

The annual Iowa 4-H Foundation Call-A-Thon has been underway for over 10 weeks raising money for Iowa 4-H. Members of the Iowa State University Collegiate 4-H Club have been taking to the phones on behalf of the foundation during this annual fundraiser. The fall of 2012 had set the record with a total of $21,251 raised for the Iowa 4-H Foundation. On November 12, 2013, the collegiate 4-H members broke the 2012 record with a total of 22,135. Two days later, they raised an additional $2,000!   The running total is now at $27,345!! There are still four weeks of calling remaining, and they are not slowing down! The Call-A-Thon is under the direction of ISU Collegiate 4-H Programming Chair and Iowa 4-H Foundation student employee, Ashley Kinkade.  Current ISU Collegiate 4-H members have spent numerous evenings calling prospective 4-H supporters requesting donations.  Over a period of 19 calling evenings, they have volunteered over 47 hours of their time makin...

Over the last week we, the Iowa 4-H Foundation staff, have been busy at the Iowa State Fair. We had the opportunity to host our first ever coin wars competition, and we are happy to announce that it was a huge success! We can’t wait to announce the winner on Sunday, August 18 during our Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame event at the Iowa State Fair. If you will not be at the fair or at the event, don’t worry, we will also announce the winner on our Facebook page, Twitter, website and blog on Monday the 19. We can’t wait to bring this competition back to next year’s state fair as we are currently working on ways to improve this exciting new fundraising event.  Iowa State Fair 4-H Facts from Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Our Executive Director, Kris Fish Kuhlmann, has also been staying busy at the fair. She has been attending various 4-H events and shows. She even had the opportunity to meet our Facebook “Like” contest winner’s family during the fair. Kevin Hauser, winner...

Ahoy Mateys! Over 900 of Iowa's youth gathered together for the 2009 Iowa State 4-H Conference on Iowa State University's campus held June 30- July 2. This three day voyage was jam-packed with hands-on educational workshops, motivational speakers, exploring campus life, community service activities and making new friends. The Iowa State 4-H Conference was planned by the 2008-2009 State 4-H Council and the Iowa State University Extension State 4-H Youth Development staff. Check out the photos of the Voyage to Greatness below! If you would like to learn how to get involved with Conference next year as a delegate, presenter, chaperone or by donating prizes, food or supplies- e-mail me at dbohling@iastate.edu.

With the opportunity to tear apart wedding dresses and design new garments, Iowa teens are ready to Stitch This! Thirteen teams have been selected to compete in the Iowa 4-H “Stitch This!” fashion design event at the Iowa State Fair. The public can watch the action take place in the 4-H Exhibits Building from 3-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, said Shelly Greving, marketing coordinator for the Iowa 4-H Foundation. The event will culminate in a runway-style fashion show at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22 on the 4-H Exhibits Building’s center stage. “We originally planned for nine teams because we had nine wedding dresses,” Greving said. “We were overwhelmed by the interest from teens who really wanted to participate, so we put out a call for more wedding dresses. Thanks to the additional donated gowns, we were able to expand to 13 teams.” During the two-day event, each team will be given a wedding dress. Each team must use the dress to create a new garment that will be w...