By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Associate Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana 4-H Foundation celebrated its 50th birthday last week by hosting hundreds of 4-H alumni, family and friends from around the state for a 4-H style feast at the Indiana State Fairgrounds last Friday.
“What a privilege to celebrate 50 years of Indiana 4-H, said Indiana 4-H Foundation President Bob Grimm. “I want to thank you for continuing to give your time and hard-earned money; and for believing in 4-H youth development programs that continue to impact thousands of youth giving them the life skills to become our future leaders.”

Founded in 1961, the Indiana 4-H Foundation has spent the last 50 years actively supporting Indiana 4-H by providing millions of dollars in scholarships and program support to Indiana 4-H, according to Shelly Bingle-Coffman, executive director of the Indiana 4-H Foundation.

“This is a great time to look back at the heritage and history of Indiana 4-H, but also look forward as we continue to strengthen our future,” said Chuck Hibberd, director of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service.
“What a great group. You represent the best of the best, the heart of our country,” addressed Don Villwock, president of Indiana Farm Bureau, lead sponsor of the April 15 banquet. “For a long time, we’ve made it our goal to be a supporter of 4-H programs. Our members at the county level are generally the lead donors invested in local 4-H programs. “There is no other organization we’re more proud to support.”

In addition to Hibberd and Villwock, many of the speakers during the April 15 banquet shared a few of their favorite memories growing up, raising or mentoring children in 4-H.

“I am kind of the poster child of Indiana 4-H,” said Cindy Hoye, executive director for the Indiana State Fair. “In 1968, my family moved to a poultry farm just a few miles from here. We came to the State Fair one year and my family fell in love with the rabbits. That’s when I got involved in 4-H. In many ways, I’m here today because of 4-H.”

“My association with 4-H began when I met my wife. She was a 4-Her and we spent 20 years as 4-H leaders together,” said Steve Simmerman, president of the Indiana Fair Board. “Our children were both involved, both 10 year members, both scholarship recipients. In a way, we exemplify what 4-H can do for youth. You see my sons were not A students, yet when it came to graduation night, both of my sons ended up with top scholarship numbers because of their leadership and involvement in the community. It is really a testament to what 4-H can really do.”

To better capture the stories and the memories circulating around the room, the Indiana 4-H Foundation enlisted the help of the Writers’ Center of Indiana. The Writers’ Center facilitated a writing exercise, where individuals in the audience could put in writing one of their favorite 4-H memories. Banquet attendees were asked to remember a single memory from their experience in 4-H – the sounds, smells and tastes associated with that memory in order to create a picture for people in the community who may not be familiar with 4-H.
All of the stories will then be edited and compiled by the Writer Group into a 50th anniversary storybook, which will be available for purchase on Amazon or through other retailers. This will be used as a fundraising effort for the Indiana 4-H Foundation to support 4-H and youth development programs.

The introductory story in the book will be provided by Katie Stam, a 10-year 4-Her from Seymour, Ind. who served as Miss America in 2009.

Stam, who is currently a spokesperson for the Indiana 4-H Foundation, made a last minute appearance at the celebratory banquet.

“It was a wonderful experience to go back in time and recall one of the number one experiences that helped me grow to become the woman I am standing here today,” said Stam, as she began to read about her first solo experience as a first-year 4-Her dressed up as a clown singing a song about being happy, meanwhile “feeling very, very silly and overwhelmed with nerves … I learned responsibility, confidence and determination (that day). And all because of 4-H I got to be a clown for a day.”

In an effort to kick start a new fundraising momentum for the Indiana 4-H, organizers passed out collection cards to all of the attendees at the event. Also, the McKinney family, including Tom, Ted and parents Mark and Judy McKinney presented a check to the Indiana 4-H Foundation for $10,000.
“As four generations of 4-H members in Indiana, we are so pleased to give a $10,000 gift to the Indiana 4-H Foundation, said Tom. “We would challenge other families in Indiana to consider a similar donation or encourage you to rethink giving at the Crystal Clover level (minimum $1000 per year). Each and every person in this room has been touched by 4-H, I’d challenge you to consider what 4-H has given you.”

To donate or become a Crystal Clover supporter, contact Shelly Bingle-Coffman at 765-494-8483 or by e-mail at sbingle@purdue.edu or go online to http://in.4h.org

“As the largest youth organization in the state of Indiana, I’m excited to watch 4-H continue to grow and strengthen in the next 50 years with even more positive impact on youth to come,” added Stam.