PULLMAN, Wash. — Three people represent Okanogan County in the newly created Washington State 4-H Hall of Fame.
Inducted Oct. 18 in Ocean Shores were: Jean Berney, 1750 Conconully Highway, Okanogan, Delores Scholtz, 334 S. Pine, Tonasket, and the late Marilyn Poole.
Berney has been a very active service leader in the Home Economics area for 40 years. She has been the foods superintendent at the Okanogan County Fair for many years. She helps organize the 4-H Pre-Fair Cooking Contest every year, and holds workshops throughout the year on various cooking topics, including bread making in the schools.
Jean has served on the State 4-H Curriculum Development Committee, State Interview Committee, and has reviewed many new foods materials. She has served on the WSU College of Agriculture and Home Economics Advisory Committee, as director of the Inter-mountain Agriculture Foundation, and member of Governor Lowery’s Agriculture Transition Team. She also is active in the Okanogan County Cowbelles and Cattle Women have also been a big part of Jean’s life.
Scholtz was the Pine Valley Pals 4-H Club’s group leader for 33 years before “retiring” to be a resource leader for four more years. Community service was a major part of her 4-H program, with one club project being the Pine Creek Pioneer Cemetery. Her club members were also taught to care for and respect their elders and caroled through the nursing home to brighten up their holidays.
During the Christmas season, Scholtz’s club would adopt a family to receive a large food basket, clothing, and toys. She taught her members to take responsibility for their projects and that quality projects require hard work.
In 1997, Scholtz received her 35-year award in a special ceremony at Achievement Night. She still judges in the Home Economics Department and promotes beef with the Okanogan County Cattlewomen.
In 1967 Poole became a 4-H leader when her two daughters wanted to learn to sew. She helped with the program for 28 years. When the county extension office lost their program assistant one month before the
fair, Marilyn stepped in and managed to get the program through the fair, including several stressful incidents. She never missed a chance to promote public presentations as a worthwhile activity. Poole died this year.
Induction of the first one hundred people was announced at a State 4-H Forum in Ocean Shores. The hall of fame was created as part of the 4-H centennial celebration.
More than 93,500 Washington youths are enrolled in 4-H programs; over 20,300 are enrolled in 1,733 clubs. Another 73,000 participate in a variety of other 4-H activities, such as the school enrichment program, day camps and overnight camping.
More than 10,300 adult volunteers support 4-H, which is Washington State University Cooperative Extension’s informal, educational program for today’s young people. The program combines the cooperative efforts of youth, volunteer leaders, WSU faculty, federal, state, and local governments, and businesses.
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FOR LOCAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL:
(509) 422-7245 for Jay Jenkins, 4-H Agent, or
Deborah Ciarabellini, 4-H Program Coordinator