This award is named after Loren Kruse, an Iowa man whose career in publishing rose from very humble 4-H beginnings. As a youngster, he was absolutely terrified of public speaking, but a 4-H club leader took Loren under his wing and helped him overcome this great fear. His communication skills changed dramatically, he found some missing confidence, and the rest as they say is history.
Throughout Loren's adult life, he credited the outstanding guidance provided by that special 4-H leader as central to his success at Meredith Corporation's founding magazine, Successful Farming. When Loren retired as the editor-in-chief of the magazine in 2012 the Meredith Corporation Foundation and the Edwin T. Meredith Foundation decided to create a legacy for Loren's 4-H story with the Iowa 4-H Foundation. The legacy is this award; an award to honor 4-H leaders who across the state of Iowa. Iowa 4-H Club Leaders are adults who dedicate their time, talents, and treasures to Iowa's 4-H youth. This award honors those who go above and beyond their position to transform the lives of the youth they interact with through the Iowa 4-H program.
Sponsored by:
The award is given to a leader who has inspired a 4-H’er to reach potentials beyond those they thought they could achieve on their own merits. Nominations must come from current or past 4-H'ers. Recipients receive a $1,000 grant to create a 4-H scholarship, put on a special 4-H program or provide a contribution to a county endowment.
- Click here to nominate a 4-H leader! -
Nominations will be made and received no later than 5/1/23 by the Iowa 4-H Foundation office. The individual recipient will be selected by criteria standards and notified no later than 6/30/23.
Honorees By Year:
2013 - Claudia Putnam, Muscatine County
2016 - Janet Ritchie, Marion County
2019 - Nancy Welsh, Iowa County
2022 - Leann Baumhover, Crawford County
2014 - Barb Determan, Sac County
2017 - Shirley Helmrichs, Delaware County
2020 - Kay Schmitt, Winneshiek County
2023 - Linda Cline, Webster County
2015 - Wil Groves, Hamilton County
2018 - Neil Lansing, Fayette County
2021- Barb Clawson, Boone County
