2012 Plymouth County- Rich Kalas

Rich’s 4-H experience began back in 1940 when he first joined the Liberty Perry Pacers 4-H Club at the age of ten!  One of his fondest memories was helping to build the first building on the current fairgrounds.  At that time 4-H members rode their bikes to the neighbors to sell footlong pencils to raise money to build this building which still exists today! 

Later he would become a leader of the Liberty Perry Pacers for 25 years!  He also served on the beef committee and sale committee in the 60’s and 70’s.  Later he served on the sheep committee to the present time.  Through his involvement his three daughters, were members of the same club dad attended.  They were active in livestock and also food and nutrition, clothing, and fashion review exhibits.  Following in his footsteps were his three grandsons, and granddaughter who also joined the Liberty Perry Pacers.  Another granddaughter, was also a 4-H’er and all had exhibits advance to the Iowa State Fair.

Rich is truly a pioneer to the Plymouth County 4-H program.  He has been a mentor, coach, and cheerleader to many youth.  Rich says his best memories over 70 years of participating in 4-H involve working with the young people, his own children, grandchildren, neighbors, and club members.  He has found it very rewarding watching them grow up and return with their children and grandchildren as 4-H’ers and sharing memories with him and appreciation for the role 4-H and volunteers like Rich played in their lives!  Rich’s greatest contributions have been working with youth and providing them with leadership and guidance and lending a hand wherever needed.  He has lived his life in accordance to the 4-H motto, pledging his head to clearer thinking, his heart to greater loyalty, his hands to larger service, and his health to better living for his club, his community, his country, and his world.