4-H HONOR FOR JEAN WHITTLE
Jean Whittle, new 4-H Hall of Fame inductee, is pictured with Albert Grunenwald, Executive Director of the Iowa 4-H Foundation.
Jean Whittle of Volga was inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, August 21. Ninety-two Iowa counties participated this year and selected 119 inductees for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H. Inductees or their surviving family members were presented a certificate by the Iowa 4H Foundation President Tom Nicholson and State 4-H Program Leader John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas as they were introduced on stage.
Clayton County honored Jean Whittle as the 2016 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame inductee. Jean has volunteered countless hours for the 4-H youth in Clayton County, whether it is taking tickets or scrambling eggs at the annual brunch, chaperoning the lock-in, or clerking the poultry show at the fair. Whenever there is a need, Jean steps up! In 2015 when the poultry show was cancelled due to avian influenza, Jean put together a “Poultry Skill-A-Thon “during the county fair for the poultry project members.
Jean works each year at the county fair as a superintendent for the horse, dog and poultry shows. She served 20 years on the Clayton County Extension Council serving as secretary and Youth Committee Representative. As a member of the Clayton County Extension 4-H & Youth Development Committee she diligently worked to improve the county 4-H & youth programs. She continues to serve on county fair livestock advisory committees.
Jean was not a member of 4-H growing up, but all three of her children were. Her first experience with 4-H was when her oldest daughter joined a 4-H club in Delaware county. Jean later became a 4-H leader.
Jean is the office manager at the Elkader Veterinary Clinic. She and her husband, Tim, enjoy keeping up with all the activities her children and grandson are involved in.
Counties select inductees for their exceptional work in contributing to the lives of 4-H members and the overall 4-H program. Many inductees served as club leaders, youth mentors, fair superintendents or fair board members, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county council members, county youth council members, fair judges, financial supporters, chaperones or ISU Extension and Outreach staff members. The inductees have demonstrated dedication, encouragement, commitment and guidance to Iowa’s 4-H’ers through the years.
“Volunteers provide the head, heart, hands and health to our Iowa 4-H program. This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize those who have made a difference in the lives of our Iowa youth,” said Chaisson-Cardenas.
