Induction of the 2007 members took place during the State 4-H Forum in Pasco on October 19, 2007.
King
Isabelle Moe took her first horse ride in a pannier box on a pack horse when she was 18 months old. Eighty-four years later, she is still working with horses.
When most people are retiring, Isabelle started her career as a 4-H leader. She began judging 4-H horse shows in the 1950s. During the finals at the 1983 Puyallup Fair, her relationship with 4-H changed because there was not a single driving entrant from King County. Isabelle obtained a list of local 4-H clubs and offered to coach anyone interested in driving. Overcoming the obstacles of finances and trained equine, Isabelle began the Drivers and Riders 4-H Club.
It wasn’t long before it became apparent that there were youth with special needs that were “intimidated” by fast moving active teenagers. A second club was formed and Drivers and Riders became home to youth with special needs, physical problems, and those who were timid around horses. To assist some of her physically challenged youth, Isabelle had a special driving cart made in Eastern Europe and shipped to the U.S. The cart allowed her to ride behind the driver and hold a second set of reins so she could assist if necessary.
Isabelle continues to work with youth that have special needs and require extra patience, of which she has plenty. Her dedication to helping youth reach their potential is evident in all that Isabelle has done in her adult life and the 4-H youth of King County have been and continue to be her “children.”
Lewis
Cindy and Peter Dykstra have been an inspiration to 4-H members, 4-H leaders, and Lewis County in their 31 years of 4-H service. Peter and Cindy started the Curtis Valley Cattle 4-H Club in the ‘70s as a dairy club. It soon expanded to include beef and sheep projects.
As a dairy farmer and 4-H leader, Peter provides a home for dairy cows of dairy project members that do not have space at home for their cattle. Every fair when the producing cows are taken from the herd by their owners, the daily milk production takes a plunge. Peter says it is worth the loss of milk to watch the growth and development of the kids that care for the dairy cows at fair.
Cindy has been a dairy program leader since the ‘80s and the lead chaperone and coordinator for the dairy entourage. In Lewis County, Cindy has served as president, vice president, and secretary of the 4-H Council, chairperson of the Council Trust Fund/Scholarship Committee, and is the Dairy Quiz Bowl Team coordinator.
During Cindy’s and Peter’s tenure as club leaders, many of their 4-Hers have succeeded in other ventures. Sixteen have become Lewis County Dairy Princesses and there has been a Curtis Valley Cattle 4-Her on the Lewis County and Washington State 4-H Dairy Judging Team or Dairy Quiz Bowl Team every year.
A local farmer once said, “The Dykstra’s could be successful farmers if they didn’t spend so much time with 4-H kids.”
Snohomish
Marilyn Stout has been committed to 4-H youth and the Snohomish County Motorcycle/ATV program for 31 years. Although her own children have long since left the program, she continues to be active with the membership.
As leader of the Mudslingers 4-H Club, Marilyn has helped guide the development of hundreds of Snohomish County youth. The club has grown so large that it has had to split into two clubs.
Marilyn has played a major role in promoting the motorcycle program. She puts on motorcycle rides during the year so the members get experience riding and teaches workshops to enhance their skills. Marilyn is always looking for ways to improve the program. Thanks to Marilyn, the county’s motorcycle program was one of the featured programs at the 2005 NAE4-HA Conference held in Seattle.
Every May, Marilyn rents a booth for three days at the Auto Club Swap Meet. She operates the booth as a fundraiser for the program while promoting 4-H and the county’s Motorcycle/ATV Program. Marilyn has been instrumental in obtaining donations, grants to purchase safety equipment, and equipment for members to participate.
In 2005, Marilyn was the recipient of the Snohomish County Clover Award. This is an award given to outstanding 4-H leaders that have had a positive impact on 4-H in general. Fellow 4-H leaders make the nominations for this award.