Posted on August 19, 2019 at 10:48 AM by Global Reach
Gary and Karen Schulteis have been avid volunteers of Adair County 4-H for over 17 years participating in and donating to countless 4-H activities. 
Karen’s 4-H career began as a member of the Hawk Husky Healthy Helper’s. Her father was a member of this same club and her parents were leaders for many years. Karen is a 3rd generation 4-H member on both sides of her family. In fact, her parents first met at a 4-H encampment. Karen’s projects always included sewing, clothing, photography and cooking. Karen and two friends competed to have the most county fair entries, each of them having at least 20 entries each year.
Karen developed her communication skills at an early age participating in 4-H Club Days where 4-H’ers gave presentations and demonstrations, conducted model meetings and entertained with musical numbers. Karen participated every year advancing to regional competition every year except two.
She continued her academic education at Kansas State University where she became a 4-year collegiate 4-H’er. She began leading county officer trainings and judging at county fairs when she was 19 years old. Her judging abilities continued as she judged 4-H foods at the Kansas State Fair 5 years and helped with judging in Food and Nutrition and Home Improvement project areas at the Iowa State Fair. Since that time she has judged county fair events in Kansas and Oklahoma, and continues to judge in Iowa. Karen held every elected office in her club and was a 4-year member of County 4-H Council.
Gary has never said no to the Adair County 4-H program. Gary owns a veterinary clinic in Greenfield where he treats 4-H animals and gives advice to 4-H families year round. Gary has offered his veterinary facilities for use during county fair weigh-in, donated supplies for youth livestock trainings, built tables that are used in the Adair County fairgrounds 4-H/FFA building and served on Adair County Fair Board for 5 years. Karen and Gary are always ready and willing to help the 4-H program, no matter what the need may be.
Karen and Gary’s children, Katrina, Ben, and Landon, were active Adair County 4-H’ers. During those years Karen volunteered as a club leader for the Summerset Citizens 4-H Club and served as a chaperone several times for the State 4-H Conference in Ames. Karen has been an Adair County 4-H volunteer for over seventeen years and continues to serve on the Adair County Extension Council, as county fair 4-H/FFA center superintendent and as a member of the county fair clothing event committee.
