PUYALLUP, Wash. – Eleven Washington residents were inducted into the Washington State 4-H Hall of Fame in Ground Mound on October 16. They were honored for their leadership, commitment to 4-H youth and volunteers, and positive impacts in their communities.
Inducted this year were the following individuals:
Nihla Bradley, Sedro Wooley, a 4-H leader for 35 years, started the first driving club in Skagit County and has been the on-going driving superintendent at the Skagit County Fair. She works with youth in foods and nutrition, food preservation, knitting, and cat projects. In addition, she has become a Master Beach Watcher and Beach Naturalist, and is now in the process of starting a 4-H project in that program.
Lois Garbe, Touchet, has been a project leader for the Touchet 4-H Club for 23 years and served as a resource leader for the Walla Walla County program for 11 years. Lois has been a sheep and sewing leader, and organizer of many hayrides, trips to statewide sheep shows, square dances, holiday caroling, and summer 4-H camps. Her significant fundraising efforts helped create an endowment fund for the Walls Walla County 4-H Leader’s Council.
Dick and Betty Garvey, Colville, started a 4-H club over fifty years ago which is still active today in Stevens County. Betty was the main club and sewing project leader for over twenty years, while Dick headed the sheep project. Dick served many years as president of the Stevens County Cattleman’s Association and Betty is still involved with the Cowbelles. The Garveys have also donated $1,500 each of the last four years to support local 4-H members attending statewide events including the Know Your Government Conference, Teen Conference, and 4-H Interstate Exchange.
Dr. Jack Giesy, Vancouver, served as the Clark County Fair veterinarian for over 40 years, and a 4-H leader for over 25 years. He has also served as a member of the Executive Horse Council, State 4-H Fair Board, 4-H Equine Advisory Committee, Clark County Fair Board, Silver Buckle Youth Equestrian Committee and, for the last twenty years, as a judge at the National 4-H Contest.
Mara Hansen, Graham, began her 4-H career in Grant County as a 4-H leader in the 1960’s where she also became county fair superintendent and 4-H camp director. Mara served six years on the State 4-H Fair Board including terms as president and vice president. In the 1980’s she moved to Pierce County where she became the fair manager for fifteen years. Since retiring from that position five years ago Mara remains active as a fair volunteer and award sponsor.
Betty and Joe Parazoo, Addy, have a combined total of 68 years of volunteer service in Stevens County. They have been leaders in horse, leather craft, beef, rabbit, bicycle, photography, rocketry, cooking, sewing, and gardening projects. Betty has held a variety of leadership positions, including president, on the Stevens County 4-H Leader’s Council. She was a member of the Fair Board for ten years and served as fair manager for five years. She is now the Northeast District representative on the State 4-H Fair Board. Joe and Betty volunteer in the Colville Eagle’s Auxiliary, Relay for Life, and the Kettle Falls Scholarship Committee.
Clarence Petty, Vancouver, has served for over 30 years as a 4-H leader in Clark County. Under his leadership the Tailored-To-Ride 4-H Club put on the Silver Buckle Horse Show which included educational clinics and the county’s largest tack sale. As an active member of the Clark County 4-H Horse Leader’s Council, Clarence began the county reining program and engineered the fairgrounds horse barn paving project. Now serving as vice president of Area 4, Clarence’s involvement includes Battle Ground Harvest Days, managing the horse show and working at spaghetti feeds. He also serves as president of the Northwest Harvest South, an organization responsible for collecting food for those in need.
Harry and Edna Wulz, Chehalis, led the Forest 4-H Club for 33 years including projects in clothing, sheep, foods, dairy, goats, and poultry. Harry was head of the dairy project and served as the chaperone/herdsman for Lewis County at the State Fair for fifteen years. Together they hosted clinics for diary, sheep, and goats, and Edna (now deceased) held trainings in cooking and sewing. Harry helped establish the Lewis County Trust Fund where he and Edna served on the committee for many years.
More than 160 people have been inducted into the State 4-H Hall of Fame since its inception in 2001.
The Washington State 4-H program is a community of young people who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. Adult leaders and volunteers are instrumental to the success of the program. Youth can participate in many project areas including the Know Your Government Conference, Science Camp-In, technology, dramatic arts, environmental stewardship, animal science, and photography. 4-H is available to youth in kindergarten through age 18. Over 75,000 young people participate in 4-H statewide.
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