NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota
State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
June 4, 1998
(Note to editors: Photos of the inductees are available upon request. Contact Dean Hulse at (701) 231-6136 or by e-mail at dhulse@ndsuext.nodak.edu.)
A North Dakota couple and a well-known businessman will be inducted into the North Dakota 4-H Hall of Fame during a reception and ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, at the Ramada Plaza Suites and Conference Center in Fargo. The 1998 inductees are Durward and Phyllis Otterness of Tower City and Harold Schafer of Bismarck.
In nominating the Otternesses, Donelda Remmick with the Barnes County office of the NDSU Extension Service said, "It is hard to separate their work as individuals as they have always worked as a team in their leadership activities."
Phyllis is a 28-year leader of the Better Livestock 4-H Club. During her years as leader, many members of the club attended National 4-H Congress and the National Dairy Conference. Others took part in judging and conservation trips. Durward was a 4-H leader for 38 years and was particularly active with judging teams. He coached livestock teams during his early years as a 4-H volunteer and has assisted with county achievement days and served on a variety of committees, including the executive committee of the 4-H Council. The Otternesses were North Dakota's Dairy Farm Family in 1985.
Schafer's nomination came from Lester Liudahl of Burlington, who serves on the North Dakota 4-H Foundation board of directors. Liudahl says that when the Western 4-H Camp near Washburn was dedicated, Schafer served as guest speaker for the event. Those organizing the dedication asked Schafer because he represented an example 4-H'ers would do well to follow.
At age 30, Schafer founded the Gold Seal Company, which in just a few years became a financial success. Gold Seal products, such as Glass Wax, Mr. Bubble and Snowy Bleach, are known worldwide. The family sold the business in 1986. Schafer's interest in western North Dakota led to the development of Medora as a tourist destination, and it stands today as one of the state's most significant attractions.
In 1975, Schafer received the Rough Rider Award, the state's highest honor. Schafer was the youngest-ever recipient of the Horatio Alger Award. He is a member and director of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, a member of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, the Old West Trail Foundation and the Greater North Dakota Association.
To be eligible for nomination into the North Dakota 4-H Hall of Fame, inductees must have had at least 15 years of involvement with the North Dakota 4-H program beyond 4-H membership. With the inclusion of the Otternesses and Schafer, membership in the North Dakota 4-H Hall of Fame totals 32, says Arleen Bunt, director for the North Dakota 4-H Foundation, headquartered on the North Dakota State University campus.
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Source: Arleen Bunt (701) 231-8569
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136