Iowa 4-H Alumni & Friends

It's time for all 100 4-H counties in Iowa to show the nation why Iowa 4-H is #1! We want to see you at the 4-H pig show, you washing your cow, you cooking in the kitchen for your food and nutrition project! We want camp, 4-H friends, and county fair selfies! Share with us YOUR 4-H story with a selfie and use the hashtag #4HSelfie! Share your selfies with us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram or email iowa4h@iastate.edu and we will share our favorites! Share with us your 4-H Selfie... and we'll show the nation why Iowa is the #1 place for 4-H!

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...

7/26/13 Grundy County Fair , though in it's last full day of delivery, proved to be lively and interesting.  Like many county fairs, they had a competition amongst clubs decorating with a specific item. In this case, it was tires. A hopscotch field and tractor were among favorites. Of course, a highlight for the Iowa 4-H Foundation was to be present for the Drew Scott Memorial Scholarship (surprise) presentation and Drew Scott Memorial Open Class sheep show. Lee, Janet and Mallory Scott couldn't have been more welcoming and hospitable. This was the 5th year for the award, so they were having a special pre-show dinner to thank donors and sponsors. I even got to enjoy the wonderful home-prepared meal and adorable cake. When served a shredded BBQ meat, I asked "surely this is mutton, right???" :) The Scott Family - Lee, Janet, and Mallory, with Cory and myself. Drew was killed four years ago in a one-car accident. While he was particularly fond of sh...

7/25/2013 On this beautiful, cool summer day, Kris Fish Kuhlmann, Executive Director at the Iowa 4-H Foundation, began her journey of another county fair tour for the third week this summer. As the county fair season begins to wind down, she has been to county fair when they are first kicking off, when they are in the peak of their activity, and when they are in the last few hours of closing down. Despite this being the last day of the Jasper County Fair, that didn't diminish their enthusiasm for offering 4-H opportunities. The flood of 2010 took the Jasper County Fair by big surprise and forced a major remodel of the 4-H Building, keeping them from use in 2011. They are back stronger than ever with an awesome, nearly flood-proof, facility with an all new kitchen that can be rented out for other events.  They also hold an auction for fundraising items (mostly awesome wood carvings, which they hire a carver to do each year).  They use this money for their endowment which fun...

7/19/2013 One of Iowa’s best kept secrets is the Polk Co. Fair. Located on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, this fair’s presence has the same energy and family presence similar to other county fairs. County Council flipping pancakes The County Council, who has been there since 5 am, has their annual pancake breakfast to raise funds for their activities. They have become masters at flipping pancakes just 10 minutes before closing time. Kris was lucky enough to catch both the dairy and meat goat shows.  Andrew Vincent of the Alleman Aces 4-H Club says that their family has modified their diet to incorporate a meat product they raise. It has the nutritional content similar to chicken, and can be used to replace nearly anything one would put ground pork or beef in.  Kris says, "I've never had a goat burger, but he makes me want to try one!" Andrew Vincent preps his goat for the show  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7...

7/12/13 To conclude this week's travel across Iowa to county fairs, the Iowa 4-H Foundation Executive Directior, Kris Fish Kuhlmann, made a stop at the Lee County Fair. Little did we know, that this fair is actually Iowa's oldest county fair, founded in 1841! Lee County has a very strong emphasis & presence upon livestock.  They are proud to say that they were the first in Iowa to showcase such competition and create "learn by doing."  Like all county fairs, heavily dependent upon volunteers, Frank & Betty are significant contributors to make it all happen.    Speaking of volunteers, they have a Fair Board with a very visible presence... not hard to find in their matching shirts.  Director Lindsey & President Brian were extremely cordial and welcoming.  So were the rest of them at the hog show.  Living history farm replica   They have a beautifully modern youth center, which plays host to year-round 4-H festivities....

7/11/13 The Iowa 4-H Foundation Executive Director, Kris Fish Kuhlmann, stopped for a visit at the Central Iowa Fair in Marshalltown, Marshall County , this morning. Here are a few of the photos from her visit. Where will she stop next? Stay tuned!   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   7/11/13 This afternoon, Kris stopped by the Cedar County Fair in Tipton. She had a great time exploring the fair and seeing the different things that they had to offer. At the Cedar County Fair, they sell breads, pastries, cookies, and pies after being judged, and its hard to not take them all home. She loved the "AWESOME silent auction packages for sale in the 4-H building!"  On to the next.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   7/11/13 The next stop was the Iowa County Fair in Marango, Iowa. It was a pretty terrific fair stop for Kris, and she really enjoyed what they had to offer. She loved how they incorporate...

County fairs are now in full swing across the state of Iowa! Fair time around Iowa means food, fun, family, friends, animals, exhibits, competitions, royalty, concerts and so much more! Iowa 4-H members from all across the state prepare their projects, exhibits, and animals to head to their fairgrounds. Fairground crews work around the clock to clean up the venue and make sure that it is in tip-top shape for opening day. Board and committee members add the final touches and details to all events to make sure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. They really dedicate all of their time to making each county fair the best it can be, and I am sure that I am speaking on behalf of all 4-H members when I say this, but I really appreciate all of their hard work! One of the many things that I love about Iowa is that each fair is different and unique in its own way. Each fair has its own attributes that makes it one-of-a-k...