Ann Marks of Ypsilanti is the recipient of the North Dakota 4-H Foundation’s Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award.

Marks, who has been the leader of the Montpelier Pioneers Club for 38 years, received the award at the foundation’s recognition social at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot on July 20.

The foundation also honored 2012-13 century families and 2013 North Dakota 4-H Hall of Fame inductees during the recognition event.

Marks’ 4-H experience began as a 4-H member in Renville County. She was involved with many projects, but primarily sewing and foods, and received several reserve champion and champion awards for her projects.

In her role as a 4-H leader, she spent 38 years as a member of the Leaders Council and 12 years on the Executive Leaders Council. She organizes youth activity day projects, recognition events and other Stutsman County 4-H functions; assists with county fair activities; provides support for the county’s 4-H Consumer Choices contest; serves as a judge or instructor for sewing projects throughout the 4-H year; organizes 4-H community service projects such as nursing home visits, roadside cleanup projects and baking for shut-ins; assists with shooting sports program promotion and training camps; holds fundraising events; and leads 4-H project areas such as sewing, Clothing Review and Project Expo.

In addition, she has chaperoned 4-H youth on national 4-H trips and transported youth to the North Dakota State Fair to compete in showcase events.

“Ann is a 4-H leader that will bend over backwards to bring 4-H to new members and those that are less fortunate,” Deb Hatlewick, 4-H volunteer coordinator for the NDSU Extension Service office in Stutsman County, wrote in a letter of support for Marks’ nomination for the award.

“Ann Marks is a leader that is dedicated 100 percent to the cause of 4-H,” Montpelier Pioneers 4-H Club co-leader Tonia Kjellberg wrote in her letter of support. “For 38 years, Ann has devoted her life to helping the youth learn lifetime skills that will prepare them for a future of serving their communities with leadership roles.”

Any family whose years as 4-H members, leaders and/or volunteers add up to 100 or more is eligible to be named a North Dakota 4-H century family. Those receiving that designation this year are the:

• Connie and Kevin Bruse family of Cass County
• Judy and Leland Erickson family of Mercer County
• Ramona and Elmer Fraase family of Cass County
• Viola and Matt Tokach family of Morton County

Induction into the 4-H Hall of Fame honors outstanding leaders and volunteers who have been involved in 4-H for 15 years or more at the local, county or state level. This year’s inductees are Lavina Domagala of Williams County and Morris Nelson of McLean County.

Domagala, of Williston, was a 4-H member for 10 years in Bowman County. She later started the Clever Clovers 4-H Club in Williams County in 1990 and continues to serve as its leader. Through the years, she has provided considerable leadership for 4-H county events, contests, fundraising and finding other volunteers to assist with a variety of 4-H activities.

She served on the Williams County 4-H Council for several years and is the 4-H representative on the Upper Missouri Valley Fair Board. She also served on the North Dakota 4-H Foundation board of directors from 2003 to 2009 and was president in 2008-09. She continues to promote 4-H whenever possible and works to find financial support for 4-H on a statewide level.

Nelson, of Washburn, was a member of the Washburn Cowboys 4-H Club from 1943 to 1949. He then served as president of the North Dakota Agricultural College (now NDSU) 4-H club while attending college there. After graduating, he served as leader of the Washburn Cowboys 4-H Club for 20 years.

While serving as assistant Extension agent in McLean County, he developed a recreational games and song book for 4-H use and taught many 4-H leaders and Extension agents how to use those activities to improve their 4-H club meetings. In addition, he led activities for the state 4-H institute at NDSU and was a livestock judge for regional county fairs.

Also this year, Fred and Bette Jane Boeshans of Beulah were recognized as North Dakota 4-H Foundation scholarship donors. They provided funding for the Steve E. and Mary M. Tuhy Scholarship, which goes to a current or former North Dakota 4-H member entering or continuing education at a North Dakota vocational or technical school, college or university. Applicants from McHenry, Cass, Dunn, Stark, Mercer and Ward counties are given preference in the selection process.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - July 26, 2013