February 14, 2003

Anderson to Enter National 4-H Hall of Fame

Sharon Anderson, North Dakota State University Extension Service director, will be among 21 individuals from across the nation inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame in April. Rick Schmidt, North Dakota Association of Extension 4-H Youth Workers president, made the announcement.

"She’s very deserving of this award because of her long involvement in the 4-H program," Schmidt says. "From her days as a 4-H member to her current position as extension director, she has always worked to improve the 4-H program."

Anderson has been involved in 4-H for more than 40 years. She was a 10-year 4-H member in Richland County and ended that experience by attending a National 4-H Congress and being one of two youth musicians featured with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Fiedler. She was a charter member of the North Dakota Association of Extension 4-H Youth Workers. As a district director and now as North Dakota's extension director, she supports and encourages youth work for all staff. She was a strong supporter of North Dakota hosting the National Association of Extension 4-H Agent's meeting in 2001.

Anderson has been involved with the North Dakota 4-H Foundation for many years and has provided leadership as that organization has moved toward Policy Governance Leadership and broad-based youth education opportunities. She continues to share the profound impact 4-H has had on her life both personally and professionally.

"4-H is truly a youth development movement rooted in success but focused on the future," Anderson says. "Although 4-H has always provided life skills development for individuals (I am one), today's 4-H involves the Power of YOUth in significant community issues. Those in 4-H, in the broadest definition, are our bright future while serving as today's leaders."

4-H Roles

• Ten-year 4-H member in Richland County, North Dakota
• 4-H Youth Development Specialist, NDSU Extension Service, 1973-1984
• Intern, National 4-H Center, 1979
• Northeast District Director, NDSU Extension Service, 1984-1994
• Program Leader, Youth & Family, NDSU Extension Service, 1994
• Director, NDSU Extension Service, 1995-present

4-H Related Projects/Committees

• North Dakota Association of Extension 4-H Youth Workers, 1977-present
• North Dakota 4-H Foundation Board of Directors, 1995-present
• North Central Region Extension Directors Administrative Advisor to North Central 4-H Program Leaders, 1996-present
• Administrative Liaison on National Ad Campaign Committee, 1997-98
• National 4-H Council Board of Trustees, 1997-present
• National 4-H Congress Board Member, 1998-present

4-H Honors

• National 4-H Council 4-H Clover Award for Communication Excellence to NDSU Extension Service 4-H Youth Development, 1998
• NAE4-HA Distinguished Service Award winner from North Dakota, 1978

The National 4-H Hall of Fame was established as part of the 100th Anniversary Celebration of 4-H in 2002. It recognizes and celebrates those people who have made a significant impact on 4-H and the lives of millions of members.

The Hall of Fame Induction Celebration will be held during the National 4-H Conference, April 4, 2003, at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The Hall of Fame is entirely in an electronic format on the Web at http://www.nae4ha.org/hof/ and is accessible to anyone with Internet access. Anderson’s name will be added to the site following her induction.

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Source: Rick Schmidt, (701)-794-8748, rschmidt@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701)-231-6136, richard.Mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu

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