For most of her life, Kellogg resident Jeannie Boettcher has been involved with 4-H. On Sunday, she is being honored for her work as she is inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame at a ceremony at 1 p.m. in the 4-H building at the Iowa State Fair.
“Jeannie’s 4-H roots run deep; both of her parents were 4-H leaders, all four siblings as well as both of her children were 4-H members,” Jasper County 4-H Youth Coordinator Stacey Wilson said. Wilson nominated Boettcher for the Hall of Fame.
“It is safe to say that Jeannie Boettcher has and continues to be an asset to the 4-H program and it was my honor to nominate her as a 4-H Hall of Fame inductee,” Wilson said.
At the age of 9, Boettcher joined the Atomic Starlets 4-H group in Crawford County. When her family moved a year later, she became a member of the Jolly Workers club out of Kellogg and participated in activities until she graduated high school.
When her children were old enough to join 4-H, Boettcher became the assistant leader of the Amboy Champions, then the Jolly Workers, her former club growing up.
In 1994, Boettcher became a member of the fair board where she still serves, currently in her 21st year. While serving on the board, she has held the position(s) of assistant superintendent and then superintendent of the 4-H building.
“Jeannie’s family were the very first people to camp at the Jasper County Fair,” Wilson said. “Now there is an actual campground that accommodates over 100 families.”
Boettcher will be honored among her peers as an inductee into the Hall of Fame. Counties can nominate volunteers, community leaders and extension staff members who have exemplified outstanding service and dedication to the 4-H youth program in their county. Only one individual or couple per county can be nominated each year.
“I really feel that it is an honor. I feel like I don’t deserve it, but I am very happy and very honored that I was selected,” Boettcher said.
The Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2002 as 4-H celebrated 100 years of a program dedicated to teaching youth life skills according to the Iowa 4-H Foundation. During those 100 years, it became evident that one of the essential elements of the 4-H program was the caring adults who were committed to the program.
Inductees into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame, the foundation said, represent the many people in Iowa who have contributed countless hours to the 4-H program. Those leaders work tirelessly to see that Iowa’s youth have a great learning experience in a safe and fun environment. These adults have modeled volunteerism, community service, integrity and leadership to Iowa’s youth. Their legacy is the young people they have mentored who will in turn support the continuation of a 4-H program that builds Iowa’s leaders.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com
