Posted on August 8, 2013 at 11:30 PM by Global Reach
Pat (Ebers) VonAhnen grew up with 4-H, as her mother was a 4-H leader. Pat, a lifelong 4-Her, was born and raised in Cedar County, Iowa. She was a nine year member of the Clarence Junior Homemakers 4-H Club, serving as treasurer and president of the club. Her project interests included home furnishing, refinished furniture, clothing, and food and nutrition exhibits at the county fair. She also belonged to the Harmony Hustler’s boys’ club for 2 years, where she exhibited cattle.
Some of the highlights of her 4-H experience included: hosting a Massachusetts exchange 4-Her (’74), participating in the Citizenship Washington Focus trip to Washington, D.C. (’75), and had exhibits in refinished furniture selected for state fair (’75 & ’76). Pat served on the Cedar County Council (’76-’77), she won the County Dress Review (’77) and was an area Dress Review winner (’77). Pat attended State 4-H Conference four years. She served on the State Council (’77-’78) helping to host the ‘78 State Conference.
Her sons Chris, Dave and Jamie were Marshall County 4-H members from 1992-2008. The family assisted with local ditch cleanups and placing flags at the Albion cemetery for Memorial Day. A special memory was acting as chaperone for Jamie’s award trip to Chicago.
She was asked to host the Marshall County Dress Review in the mid 90’s. Pat then acted as ‘traffic cop’ in the 4-H Exhibit Building during exhibit judging for 4 years. During this time she also took the training to become a 4-H exhibit judge. She has judged Science & Engineering and Ag & Natural Resources at a number of county fairs.
After her boys graduated from 4-H, Pat has continued to be a huge help to the Extension staff by participating in the evaluation of 4-H record books, serving as Exhibit Building Superintendent for 12 years and helping families get their county fair exhibits entered in the proper classes. She stays late on exhibit judging day at county fair to set up the Iowa State Fair exhibit booth, so it looks perfect.
For many years Pat helped tag and pack up county exhibits selected for state fair and along with her husband, Jeff, take them down to the 4-H Exhibit Building for state fair exhibition and pick them up ten days later!
Categories: Marshall
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