NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

June 10, 1999

4-H Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

Two long-time 4-H volunteers will be inducted into the North Dakota 4-H Hall of Fame during a reception and ceremony beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23, in the Frontier Room at the Fargo Holiday Inn. The 1999 inductees are Joan Schlecht of Enderlin, N.D., and Marguerite Gray of Hankinson, N.D.

With the inclusion of Schlecht and Gray, membership in the North Dakota 4-H Hall of Fame now totals 34, says Arleen Bunt, director for the North Dakota 4-H Foundation, headquartered on the North Dakota State University campus.

A former 4-H'er herself, Schlecht remains active in Ransom County's 4-H program even though her three children—all former 4-H'ers—are now adults, says Deb Lee, agent for the NDSU Extension Service in Ransom County. Schlecht has served as 4-H Council president, a leader at large and on various committees during her decades of 4-H volunteerism. For many years, Schlecht has helped organize a five-county leaders' forum and has helped judge numerous district Communication Arts events, as well as at county fairs and achievement days. Schlecht has also represented North Dakota at regional and national leaders' forums.

Two of Schlecht's children, Sheila and Shannon, have been North Dakota 4-H Ambassadors. Shannon spent several months in Germany in 1998 through the International Four-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) Program. For the 1987-1988 school year, the Schlechts received North Dakota's 4-H Family of the Year award. Schlecht currently is a trustee of the North Dakota 4-H Foundation.

Gray was involved with the 4-H program for 35 years—nine years as a member and 26 years as a local leader. As a 4-H volunteer, Gray worked with more than 90 young people throughout the years—in addition to 11 of her own children who were 4-H'ers, says Beth Tiegs, one of several people from Hankinson and the surrounding area who nominated Gray to be a 4-H Hall of Fame inductee. Gray's husband, Arlo was also an active 4-H volunteer, serving as club leader and vice president and president of Richland County's 4-H Leaders' Council.

In 1978, the Grays attended the 4-H Leader Tour and Forum at the National 4-H Center in Washington, D.C. In 1985, Gray received a Meritorious Service Award in recognition of her 35 years of involvement with the Greendale Go-Getters 4-H Club and the members' ongoing efforts to promote the 4-H program in North Dakota.

###

Source: Arleen Bunt (701) 231-8569

Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136