MARIETTA, Ohio — Like thousands of children before her, Charlotte Wagner joined a local 4-H club when she was 9 years old. When her 4-H advisor retired, though she was just 15 Wagner decided to pitch in and started volunteering with the organization.
Nearly 70 years later, she is still working with 4-H as an advisor to the Lowell Lively Lassies and has progressed to serving as president of the county’s 4-H advisory committee.
"I’ve always enjoyed 4-H and I thought it was a good and worthwhile program for kids," said Wagner, now 84. "It’s educational and can be a fun thing. I’ve really enjoyed being with the kids and meeting their parents. It’s a great thing."
According to the National 4-H Council, 17,836 adult volunteers are actively involved in Ohio 4-H. While Wagner’s 69 years of service makes her the longest-serving Ohio 4-H volunteer, 11 others have served the organization for 60 years or more. An additional 4,693 youth volunteered their time in 4-H programs in the state.
"For me it was an outlet for the summer," Wagner said. "When I got too old to be a member, one advisor for the club asked me if I would be a junior leader."
Last April she was recognized during National Volunteer Month as being the longest-serving volunteer in any Ohio 4-H club. The club she joined as a 9-year-old and is now advising was chartered in 1922 as the Buckeye Canning Club, then changed its name to the Lowell Girls’ 4-H Club.
In the 1960s, members decided to change the name again, to the Lowell Lively Lassies. Then, when boys decided to join, the name became Lowell Lively Lassies and Lads. It is one of three Washington County 4-H clubs that have been continuously active since 1922.
As a 4-H member Wagner concentrated on cooking, baking and sewing projects. "I won a large Sears and Roebuck pressure canner one year, it was the top award in the county," she said. "I’ve used that canner ever since. It’s in perfect working order."
In her first sewing project, she made a tea towel and a dust cloth. Those initial rudimentary skills improved with experience, and in her final year Wagner made herself a wool suit: "I got married in 1950, and wore that suit as my going-away outfit for our honeymoon."
She continued to assist with the 4-H club through her adult years, when her daughter was a member and then when her granddaughters joined. She took the lead when the former advisor stepped down after 43 years of service. More recently, she has also served on the county 4-H advisory committee.
"Wagner’s service is remarkable among volunteers for Ohio 4-H youth development," said Tom Archer, assistant director of Ohio State University extension, in charge of 4-H programs. "The 4-H experience could not happen without adult and teen volunteers who advise and lead our local 4-H programming. There are an average of over 1,000 4-H members in most of Ohio’s counties, each of which has only one 4-H professional.
"If it were not for volunteers, there is no way that 4-H could have the reach, educational programming, coordination and staffing of events, and overall impact that it does in preparing youth for a successful future."
Wagner currently works with 23 children ages 9-18. She is also involved in all the enrollment, and helps keep the kids informed on activities with extension services.
"Her dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed," said Alison Baker, extension educator with 4-H youth development with the Washington County OSU extension office. "If we had 20 Charlottes, we’d be in good shape. She’s an outstanding example of what a 4-H volunteer can be.
"We appreciate her years of commitment and hope there are many more years to come."
