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Washington State University Extension

Hall of Fame 2004

Induction of the 2004 members took place during the State 4-H Forum in Tacoma on October 15, 2004.

Benton

Jeanette Martin Klostermeyer began her involvement in 4-H as a member of her mother’s 4-H club in Gretna, NE. From 1953 to 1967, she organized andled four different 4-H clubs in the Prosser area–the Busy Bachelors, Busy Hands, Junior Cutups, and Junior Homemakers. She even developed some of her own projects to use in these clubs.

Jeanette Held offices in the Benton County Leaders’ Council, and the District and State Leaders’ Council. She was State 4-H Fair Board President in 1967-68. She was a host mother to an IFYE from Peru and chaired the State IFYE Advisor Committee in 1966. One of her club members was an IFYE to Germany. Jeanette organized workshops and contests, and served as a clothing judge at Benton-Franklin County Fair and other fairs, including the State 4-H Fair. She received the Gold Clover Award and was elected to the National 4-H Honorary, Mu Beta Beta, in 1963.

Six of Jeanette’s club members were delegates to the National 4-H Congress and received scholarships. Her three grandsons were in 4-H and one received a National 4-H scholarship. Some of her club members became adult 4-H leaders. Her daughter, Mary Jean Craig, is employed as an Extension Associate in the Idaho State 4-H Office. In addition to 4-H, Jeanette was involved in Extension Homemakers activities. A club she organized for that program is still in existence. Jeanette died in 1985.

Clark

Pat Dixon Hawkins, a graduate of the University of Washington, started her career as an Extension Agent in Northeastern Washington/Northern Idaho areas from Sandpoint, ID. After moving to Clark County, she put her energies into her family, the 4-H program and her community.

Pat Hawkins was a 4-H leader for 27 years. She started Charter Oaks Community 4-H Club, which included many projects areas. She was an individual with a lot of energy and innovative ideas, who supported and encouraged the youth in their various interests; and even started new projects to fit those interests. An example was starting a dog sled pulling project, which lasted a couple of years.

Over the years, Pat served in all the offices of the Battle Ground Area IV 4-H Association and the Clark County 4-H Leaders’ Council. She was Garden and Cat Superintendent and Superintendent of various Home Economic activities, including Fashion Review, at the Clark County Fair. She was also Superintendent of numerous areas in the Battle Ground Community Fair, which included the 4-H Area IV Fair. She set up, organized and ran food and sewing activities for the entire Clark County 4 H youth for 12 years. Pat was a member of the 1990 Western Regional Forum Planning Committee. She was the Outstanding 4-H Leader of the Year for Clark County in 1987.

Pat was very involved in the Battle Ground Community. She was a member of the Advisory Board of North Clark County Social Services (food bank and services for low income and needy people) and was an instrumental part in the organizing of that social services group. The North County Food Bank continues to this day. She was a member of the Battle Ground Planning Commission and was nominated as Citizen of the Year in Battle Ground in the early 1980’s. Pat was the Treasurer of her church for many years.

To sum up her dedication and devotion to the 4-H program and youth – beyond her family, I think 4-H was the most important thing in her life, and there were occasions she put 4-H before herself.

Cowlitz

Cora Johnsen devoted 60 years to the Cowlitz County 4-H Program—longer than anyone in the state’s history. She carried more than one club each year and made very project the state had available to her members, as well as continuously helping others start clubs to make 4-H bigger and better. Everyone of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have been active members. She began as a 4-H’er in the 1920’s in Omaha, NE. Her family was presented with her 60 year leadership pin at her funeral. Besides the importance of teaching updated skills, she felt learning to keep record books and the ability to speak in public were top priority to every 4 H’er. She made sure every member knew what community service was, and that they practiced it.

Cora devoted more than 60 years as a Granger, 4-H Leader and Rose Valley School volunteer for the H.O.S.T. program and teacher’s aide. The Rose Valley Community Fair, the Columbia Empire and State 4-H Fair were of great importance to Cora.

In the 1950’s Cora started a club called the “Bachelors and Spinsters,” a co-ed group. Their project was cooking and homemaking with all kinds of public service projects and plenty of recreation time. Many of those club members married within the club. Many of her former 4H’ers also credit her for their successful careers.

Cora was an accomplished professional seamstress, chicken, dairy and beef farmer. Even after the death of her husband, she kept the farm and 4-H going for another 20 years.

Pierce

Pat Hague has been a 4-H leader in the horse project for 26 years. She has been an active member of the Pierce County Leaders’ Council Executive Board and is a public presentation judge.

For eight years she served as the Assistant Manager of the 4-H State Fair Equine Dept. Because of her hard work, dedication and organizational skills, the State 4-H Fair’s horse show runs smoothly, giving the youth of the state the opportunity to demonstrate their horse showmanship skills. Pat won the National Salute to Excellence Award, receiving a trip to Washington D.C. and $1000 to benefit the Pierce County 4-H Program.

Pat’s daughter is following in her mother’s footsteps by becoming a 4-H leader. She is one of the next generation continuing leadership and providing growth in the 4-H program to ensure that it flourishes for future generation. Good leadership instills good leadership.

 

Mary Richen has left a wonderful legacy to her family, her club, community and country. She helped purchase the Valley 4-H Club property. The property was later sold, and the Valley 4-H Club still uses the proceeds from that sale for annual scholarships. Mary’s daughter and grandson both served on the scholarship board. Mary now has a great-grandson that is a 4-H member in Eatonville.

In the late 1930’s, Mary would take her 4-H club to camp at Benbow Resort in the old cattle truck loaded down with tents, blankets and 4-H’ers. Sometimes it would take her two or three tries to get the overloaded truck up “Graham Hill.” During the war years they would go to “Seal Rock” on Hoods Canal.

Mary was a 4-H leader for almost 40 years. She helped two or three generations of girls in some families in constructive 4-H work. She judged countless meal preparation and demonstration contests. She served as Secretary of 4-H Leaders’ District meetings, the Pierce County Leader’s Council, and State Leader’s Council. She was a member of the National 4-H Honorary, Mu Beta Beta. She served on the Pierce County Junior Fair Board for many years.

Mary was a member of the Riverside School Board and served on her community election board for years. She was also active in the Puyallup First Presbyterian Church.

Mary was born in Holland in 1900, and died in 1975.

Snohomish

Ellen HaydenEllen Hayden helped establish the 4-H Horse program in Snohomish County and has been a staunch supporter of 4-H since 1957. She and her husband, Fred, formed the second 4-H Horse Club in Snohomish County in 1958. Ellen continued as Club Leader of the Caballeros for many years, and also served as County Fair Superintendent for several years.

Ellen and Fred were Superintendents of the first County 4-H Horse Exhibit, which was held in Marysville in 1958. The exhibit moved to the fairgrounds in 1959, with members showing in a small, make-shift arena with no barns available. Ellen was instrumental in organizing donations of lumber and volunteer labor to build the horse barns and an arena. September 0f 1960 was the first official Snohomish County 4-H Horse Exhibit at the Evergreen State Fair, with about 75 exhibitors. By 1962, there were a total of 138 exhibitors.

Throughout the years, Ellen has been a 4-H Judge all across the state, given numerous farm tours, provided clinics in many counties, been the official Judge at many 4-H Judging Clinics and Contests and, for 20 years, she has bee an instructor at the Annual Snohomish County 4-H Horse Training School. She has a wonderful, positive way with youth that encourages and teaches at the same time.

Ellen and her husband very successfully raised, trained and showed Arabian horses. After Fred’s death, Ellen continued to train and give riding lessons. Her 4-H students, past and present, number in the hundreds. She gives youth a solid introduction to horse care and basic horsemanship combined with a sincere love of both horses and children.

Spokane

Ron ZellerRon Zeller has given of his time and talent to the members of 4-H for more than 20 years. He has been a father figure for several young people and has helped them to get a horse, find boarding, and work with their animal. He is still considered “Dad” by some of these past 4-H members who are now adults.

Ron has served 4-H as a Leader, Project Leader, and Teen Advisor. He has held the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Committee Chairman for Spokane County Horse Committee. He helped put on events at Interstate Fair. He worked on the Washington State Advisory Board, the Washington State Fair Board, on statewide committees, judged at State Fair, and led in the role of host at State Fair Western Games as an officer from Spokane County. He helps members from across the state and they call him at his home for guidance about the rules or their project. He is a resource for the county and state 4-H staff. He helped write curriculum for the horse program. He handled the equipment for the workshops at WRLF in Spokane.

As a member of the northwest Pattern Racing Association, he helped train several judges in Western Games. These were the judges and are the judges that judge for our Western Games shows. I know that if he is compensated for his 4-H work, he donated it back to the kids.

He continues to be a help to our program by serving as a Judge, teaching clinics, and announcing at shows. He is an electrician by trade and has donated hours wiring a barn for the use of the small animal project members.

He was recognized as the Outstanding Leader of Spokane County in 1994

Stevens

Louise Savitz was instrumental in forming the “Singing Spurs” 4-H club in 1962, which is still active in Stevens County. She served as a leader for 40 years, both as Chairman and Project Leader. While she supported county level activities throughout her 4-H leadership career, her primary focus was at the club level. She has been a leader, parent and grandparent to over 250 members and has inspired each one to be the best they could be.

Louise’s role in 4-H work encompasses driving carloads of kids to 4-H activities; designing and sewing 4 H uniforms and flags (still in use today); riding on trail rides and in parades; teaching and coaching judging sessions, public presentations, showmanship and various projects; serving as a judge, to name just a few. Members knew they could call on her for help—whether it was for an idea for a demonstration, or rounding up a piece of clothing or equipment they didn’t have or couldn’t afford.

In 1990 Louise retired fro 43 years of elementary school teaching. She taught the “whole” child before it became a buzzword—and from this experience, knew that 4-H was one way to reach children who were sometimes unreachable in the standard school setting. In 1999 she was honored at the Western Regional 4-H Forum as a leader of over 30 years of volunteer service, and that same year was the keynote speaker for the County Leaders’ Banquet. In 2000, she and her husband, Harvey, were honored as Chewelah’s Honored Citizens for their many contributions to the community. Louise always believed in giving her service, her wisdom, and her positive attitude to others when she could.