4‑H Salute to Excellence Awards

In 1970, at the age of 18, Chuck Kruschke started the St. Croix County dairy judging team after being told that there was no talent or skill in northwestern Wisconsin. At the time, he had little experience coaching children and scant knowledge of the art of judging cattle, but 51 years later, Chuck has worked diligently to coach over 1,000 4‑H youth! As many of today’s young people don’t grow up on farms, Chuck strives to give all youth access to the dairy industry. This outlook has allowed him to provide many 4‑H’ers with opportunities they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. Chuck knows that he isn’t alone when it comes to empowering youth – it takes a village of caring, dedicated adults who are willing to mentor and share their skills. He has brought in many dairy farmers and cattle enthusiasts to help work with 4‑H members, offering them resources and connections within the industry. It is estimated that more than 40 adults have assisted with dairy judging over the years – many of them alumni of the program itself.

Chuck will tell you his greatest achievement as a coach is not having his judging teams win at district, state and national contests, but rather it has been helping 4‑H youth develop poise, confidence and leadership abilities over time. This is something he has excelled at, as several youth have gone on to pursue careers within the dairy and agricultural industries as a result of Chuck’s guidance and encouragement.

During Carol LeBlanc’s 52-year 4‑H volunteer career, she has served in numerous roles at the county, state and regional levels, as well as established three 4‑H clubs – including the Snoopy’s Pals 4‑H Club. Carol has led its members to earn showmanship championships, American Kennel Club (AKC) certifications, record book awards, leadership medals and county fair fundraising awards. Members also engage locally with community service projects by sharing their dogs for pet therapy and collecting toys for the local children’s hospital. With Carol’s careful guidance and commitment to positive youth development, club members have served in county fair association roles and as delegates for various award trips. Club alumni have gone on to become veterinarians and professionals in the dog industry, and have also returned as 4‑H leaders and volunteers. Throughout the pandemic, Carol demonstrated her commitment to youth by transitioning to an online format so her club could still meet, and also developed showmanship and rally competitions for the virtual 4‑H county fair.

Carol is a founding member and superintendent of the New England 4‑H Dog program and founder of the Hartford County 4‑H Dog Camp. Through her dedication, she has expanded dog project programming for youth across New England, including new opportunities for 4‑H members with the AKC. She has also brought in numerous breeders, AKC judges and other professionals from within the dog industry to share their knowledge and provide career-oriented exposure to 4‑H’ers.

Timothy D. Williams has tirelessly served as a volunteer and agent of change within 4‑H for 22 years, actively working to create a more diverse, inclusive, equitable and accessible program for Louisiana youth. Since he started as a club leader in the 1990s, Timothy has helped low-income high-risk youth from his community to recognize their leadership potential and utilize their talents and skills to make a better life for themselves and others. An ambassador for civic engagement, Timothy has engaged the youth of Bienville, Louisiana, in community clean-up days, adopt-a-highway projects and food pantry initiatives. Through the 4‑H program, Timothy is dedicated to creating the next generation of leaders – globally knowledgeable citizens who are capable of positive community change. Timothy has served as a 4‑H Advisor, Club Leader, Advisory Board Member, 4‑H Foundation Treasurer, Vice President, and, most recently, 4‑H Foundation President. Additionally, as the school counselor at Ringgold High School, he has been instrumental in obtaining critical resources for funding and community partnerships. Additionally, his efforts in fundraising have secured thousands of dollars for Bienville Parish 4‑H that have been crucial in allowing students without the financial means to participate in 4‑H camps and projects.

Linda Zimmerman’s 34 years of experience as a volunteer 4‑H horse leader has earned her a reputation of being kind, empathetic and supportive. Her long relationship with 4‑H began when she was a member herself, and continued as she raised her children and grandchildren in the program. Her positive impact on youth has inspired many former 4‑H’ers to enroll their own children in 4‑H and become leaders themselves.

Linda has served 4‑H at the club, county and state levels. For 30 years, her local club has planned and hosted a consignment tack sale that brings in thousands of dollars, with a portion coming back to 4‑H. These funds give 4‑H youth access to opportunities they would not have otherwise, such as financial support to attend Western National Roundup or 4‑H camp. Continually supportive of the entire Washoe County 4‑H Horse Program, Linda helps by coordinating horse shows and acting as secretary and manager. At the state level, she has chaired, organized and fundraised for the 4‑H Horse Show at the Nevada State Expo. At the national level, Linda has raised scholarship funds that have provided youth with the opportunity to participate in national events, including Citizenship Washington Focus, National 4‑H Conference and National 4‑H Congress.

When Angela Tveit’s family joined 4‑H in 2015, they had no prior experience with the program. Now, seven years later, Angela has helped to develop new afterschool partnerships, model short-term creative learning experiences for first-generation
4‑H’ers and created new project areas. By offering her time, energy and enthusiasm, Angela helped to build the 4‑H Drone Program, where she invested hundreds of hours in developing, testing, refining and creating a learning journey for youth to explore the world of drones. Her passion for the program led her to bring drone programming to neighboring counties by spearheading a 4‑H Drone Camp that drew youth from five different counties. Angela also helped to develop 4‑H Superhero Science Curriculum, a STEM series that has been delivered throughout her county and replicated in afterschool sites across her state.

In her current role as a leader for the Chisago 4‑H Drone Project, Angela has facilitated significant partnerships that have strengthened 4‑H’s local reputation and deepened learning and leading opportunities for youth. These include educational experiences with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (drone transportation), the Chisago County Sheriff’s Department (drone safety), and Youth Drone Sports Championships (drone racing).

Managing 40 youth is a daunting task to many, but nine-year volunteer Susan Swope does it with ease, as she recognizes the high attendance in her club as an opportunity for young people to learn and work together. She incorporates youth and their families in everything the club does – from planning, to learning, to delivering activities. In her role as club organizational leader, and as a member of the 4‑H Program Development Committee, Susan has become a trusted and respected resource. She is the go-to volunteer when people are looking for valuable feedback and guidance, and she excels at identifying the needs of her county’s youth. Known for going above and beyond, Susan assists with planning and evaluating educational programs, always taking additional time to complete surveys, assess curriculum or programs, and provide meaningful impact statements for the county and state. Susan was instrumental in developing the inaugural event of ‘Round-Up Revue’, where members are encouraged to expand their skills and knowledge while completing project requirements. She has also assisted in developing resources for other club leaders to prepare for a successful event and year.

Vibriyogn Epuri is a leader who dedicates much of his life to serving 4‑H and Louisiana youth through the 4‑H Tech Club. Through collaboration, teamwork and a love of STEM and technology, Virbriyong ’s leadership has allowed the club to develop community engagement and service-learning projects that have impacted hundreds of individuals and communities across the state. Members of the club have studied hurricanes, community accessibility, introduced middle schoolers to GIS/GPS technology, developed GIS courses, and connected people across the nation to food resources in their local communities. Vibriyogn values citizenship and civic engagement, and utilizes the power of STEM and GIS/GPS technology to allow youth to change the world. Whether it is teaching hydroponics, aquaponics and story mapping, or building courses on GIS technology, Vibriyogn’s 4‑H’ers learn valuable skills to share knowledge with the public that helps direct policy and community change. In his clubs, youth learn lessons in leadership, time management, teamwork, problem-solving, project management and how to utilize their talents and skills to make the world a better place. Through the Louisiana 4‑H Tech Club and national team leadership initiatives, members have presented and competed at the parish, regional and national levels, sharing knowledge that is used to implement community policy and community change initiatives across the United States.

Vibriyogn works hard to make his club an inclusive and safe environment for all youth, recognizing that each member has a unique fit for their skills and passions. “Every youth has something they are passionate about. When they find that they can contribute to the Tech Club through their passions, that is where they develop their spark. Even if it is art, we need members that can draw and map out a storyboard. They light up when they learn that their unique skills can contribute to the project. That is the best part of what 4‑H does for these kids. Everyone has a place in 4‑H.”

Lori Harrison has an extremely successful professional career as the Federal Veterinarian for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Despite the rigorous duties and requirements of her job, Lori’s commitment to 4‑H positive youth development has continued to grow. She uses her work-related expertise to train young people and volunteers in a wide range of information related to animal health and disease, and is equally involved in shooting sports, market animals and STEM projects. She never limits her involvement to a single county or district, but is an active trainer and leader throughout the state.

Honest, dependable and reflective, Lori is always looking for ways to improve classes, camps and programs to ensure youth will get the most out of 4‑H. In addition to donating her time, Lori is known for donating equipment, and has also successfully applied for federal grants to fund programs. As club leader, she encourages collaboration, not competition, among youth members. She is always ready to support any 4‑H youth, not just the ones in her club. Whether she is transporting youth to camp, or teaching club members how to show their dog, Lori actively seeks ways to help all young people within her circle of influence to reach their full potential.