PULLMAN, Wash. — Four people have been honored for contributions to 4-H in Yakima County.
Inducted Oct. 18 into the newly created Washington State 4-H Hall of Fame were: Barbara Harrer, P.O. Box 449, Harrah; Diane Jones, 442 N. Kershaw, Yakima; and the late Damon Canfield and late Inez Walter.
Harrer, mayor of Harrah, has been a 4-H leader for 39 years. She currently leads the Harrah Humdingers 4-H Club. She has engaged many community teens in citizenship programs and her older teen members have sponsored the Harrah Nite Out Against Crime for many years.
Inez Walter was a 40-year 4-H leader in Yakima County. She made many contributions to the 4-H Youth Development Program throughout the county and state. In the early 1960’s she was instrumental in establishing the 4-H Light Horse Training School. She managed the Washington State Junior Horse Show until her death at the age of 101. Inez strongly believed in striving for excellence through her sponsorship of the high-point County Public Presentation Awards. She was a caring, sharing, dedicated individual who devoted her life to 4-H youth.
Jones has been a club leader for 25 years. She has given extraordinary contributions of quality time and leadership to youth in her local community and the county 4-H program, according to her nominators.
She designed and implemented the Super Saturday program and the record book training and evaluation program for Yakima County.
Canfield served in the Washington State Legislature for 22 years. He helped write and pass the initial legislation that provides state funding of the fairs. Later he served on the Washington State Fair Commission. While a teacher in Yakima High School, he worked closely with the 4-H program and served on the Board of the Washington State 4-H Foundation.
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.
– 30 –
FOR LOCAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL:
(509) 574-1600 for Christine B. Jackson, 4-H Agent