Posted on August 26, 2016 at 8:59 AM by Emily Saveraid
The Monday family has been involved in Mills County 4-H for the past 24 years. For the majority of the time, Lonny and Kresenz were active 4-H parents taking on an involved role in their children’s project areas, including horse, llama, cat, art, photography, music, theater and clothing. In addition, they became co-leaders for the Mills County Prize Winners 4-H Club for 9 years. They then took a bigger step by becoming the Mills County dog project leaders and superintendents in 2008. They continue in that role today, teaching dog agility, obedience, and showmanship. They created an award to be given to an exemplary 4-H dog project member at the annual Mills County 4-H Awards Ceremony. This year they expanded their leadership roles when Kresenz became the Mills County cat project superintendent with their daughter, Kassidy. The Mondays have given a number of visual art and photography workshops for the county. Lonny served as a 4-H dog agility and showmanship judge for neighboring county fairs.
Lonny started his Iowa 4-H career in the one-room Highland Center school house converted to be the home of the Union County Highland Highlights 4-H Club. During his time in 4-H, Lonny participated in the sheep, cattle and woodworking project areas and looked forward every year to the Union County 4-H basketball tournament.
Kresenz grew up in a Maryland suburb in a loving home, but desperately longed for animals. After marrying her Iowa farm-boy Air Force sergeant, she soon rectified that situation by accumulating a menagerie of animals for future 4-H projects. They shared their 4-H animals, music and art skills with community fundraisers, schools, residents of veteran’s hospitals and nursing homes to name a few.
Lonny and Kres Monday have been long-time supporters of all aspects of the 4-H program; beginning as encouraging parents, then moving into leadership roles at the club and county levels. They served as project workshop facilitators, 4-H club leaders, county project leaders, and fair superintendents. They continuously promote 4-H through community service, writing letters to newspapers, and demonstrating true philanthropy through their donation of time, talent and financial support.
Kres and Lonny are firm believers that participation in 4-H provides essential experiences and information needed for success in all aspects of life. They are very grateful to be a small part of the whole that is enriching our youth in so many positive ways, and Mills County is honored to recognize them as inductees into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.
Categories: Mills
