Posted on August 22, 2022 at 12:09 PM by Cade Cameron
Vernon and Karen Harrington are no strangers to Plymouth County 4-H! Vernon was a 4-H’er in the Washington Wild Cats and exhibited beef. Karen was a member of the Plymouth Peppers and exhibited foods, clothing, home improvement, personal development and photography. She also was a member of the Merrill Blue Ribbons where she exhibited livestock and had the Grand Champion lamb once.
Vernon and Karen’s daughters, Bethene and Audra, were nine-year members of the American Achievers. They each had the honor of an exhibit going to the Iowa State Fair and participated in Share the Fun skits, including the time when their club performed at the State Fair.
Vernon is in his 36th year as a Plymouth County 4-H volunteer. He has served on the 4-H & Youth Committee and was a representative to the Plymouth County Fairboard. Vernon states, “It was an honor to receive the “Fairboard Rookie of the Year” award. He also chaperoned the Intermediate trip to Des Moines and was a co-leader of the American Panthers club.
Karen, a 41-year volunteer has served as co-leader to the American Achievers Club and was a seven-year fair superintendent for the 4-H home economics department. She is currently serving her final term on the Extension Council.
Together they have served on the Northwest Iowa Area 4-H Interview Committee, the Blair House Ambassadors and Promotion & Recruitment subcommittees, assist with clerking on static judging day, and cashier at the 4-H Foodstand. They are members of the 4-H 400 club and created a life-size Chris Clover mascot costume.
Vernon’s most memorable 4-H experience was the expansion of the 4-H Food Stand and the cooperating effort among those involved to make it what it is today. Karen says hers was when she was awarded the “Salute to Excellence” award in 1989, for the State of Iowa. She then had the privilege of attending a week-long, all-expense paid trip to Washington DC, at National 4-H headquarters.
For the Harringtons, the fair is the highlight of their involvement. It provides a climax to the educational 4-H year for 4-H’ers. The Harrington’s know there are many people in the county that contribute their gifts of time, talents, and money to make the 4-H program such a great organization for our youth. They are very humbled and honored to receive this recognition. Their blood runs half green for 4-H!
