2003 Plymouth County - Gene and Annette Held

Gene and Annette Held, both 4-H members, met when they were delegates to National 4-H Club Congress. Gene was attending as a result of his 4-H beef project and Annette was a delegate from Douglas County, Nebraska, as a Citizenship Award winner. During Congress Annette was hosting a booth promoting 4-H and Gene happened to walk by. That was their first meeting!

Annette served as a long time 4-H leader with the Hungerford Hummer’s 4-H Club while Gene volunteered as the county photography project leader. The Held’s have always enjoyed photography and for the past 9 years have photographed each grand champion winner exhibit at the Plymouth County Fair. The photos are then displayed in county banks as a cooperative effort of Plymouth County Farm Bureau and Plymouth County 4-H. The Held’s volunteer their time and talent to do this huge undertaking. This is the spirit in which they serve others in their community and family.

The Held’s have two grown children who were active in Plymouth County 4-H. Kevin is working with the Held family farm and has a photography business that photographs livestock professionally. Kirsten resides in Madison, Wisconsin, where she works for the Bureau of Forestry. Kirsten was also a delegate to National 4-H Congress representing Iowa as a winner in the Forestry project.