Posted on August 18, 2014 at 10:19 AM by Global Reach
Loren Kruse grew up on a family farm in Grundy County and joined 4-H when he was 10. His 4-H experiences led to his choice of journalism as a career path. In 1970, Loren began his journalism career as Extension 4-H editor at Oklahoma State University. In 1976, he became the senior farm editor at Successful Farming magazine and was the editor in chief when he retired in 2012. Upon Loren’s retirement, Meredith Corporation and the Edwin T. Meredith Foundation endowed the Successful Farming/Loren Kruse Outstanding 4-H Leader Award through the Iowa 4-H Foundation. This award is given annually to an Iowa 4-H volunteer leader who has inspired 4-H youth to excel and achieve.
Loren served on the Iowa 4-H Foundation board for many years, including the role of president. He was a member of the Imagine Together Capital Campaign committee of the 4-H Foundation that raised 2.5 million for Iowa 4-H in the 1990’s.
While Loren served on the board of the Iowa 4-H Foundation, he spoke throughout the state of Iowa to numerous service organizations and businesses and always gave the honorariums to the 4-H Foundation. One of his speeches included the Volunteer 4-H Leader Forum where he came with his 4-H record book in hand. He shared the story of how during his first 4-H presentation he froze because he was so nervous. It was his volunteer leader who took him aside and gave him the encouragement needed to try again. It wasn’t too many years later Loren was giving a 4-H presentation at the Iowa State Fair with a fellow club member and received top recognition.
Loren has served on and continues to serve on many boards, providing leadership at the state and national level. He has received numerous awards and recognition over the years for his service to 4-H, agriculture, journalism, and his community.
Loren and his wife own a crop, livestock and Christmas tree farm in Grundy County. They have two children who are Iowa State students.
Categories: State Recognition
