The South Dakota 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame was established in 2002 as part of the 100th birthday celebration of 4-H. Its purpose is to recognize and celebrate adult volunteers in South Dakota who have dedicated themselves to making significant contributions to the development of the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension 4-H Youth Development Program in the areas of:
- Character
- Citizenship
- Leadership
- Career accomplishment
Nominations are accepted all year. Nominees who are current, former, living or non-living are eligible to be admitted into the South Dakota 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame. The new class will be selected after July 1 each year. SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development celebrates 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame recipients Sunday evening during the South Dakota State Fair in Huron.
If you have questions about the South Dakota 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame Award, please send an email to the State 4-H Office.
2026 Honorees
Rodney Clarambeau, Sanborn County
Clarambeau is being honored for 35 years of service and is proud to be a lifelong 4-H volunteer and advocate. He is especially known for his commitment to livestock projects, hosting dairy judging schools, judging county achievement days shows and mentoring youth in dairy, beef and swine projects.
Beyond 4-H, Rodney has served his community as the Letcher Volunteer Fire Chief for more than 45 years, supported Special Olympics events, and volunteered through the Shriners. Through a lifetime of service, generosity, and mentorship, Clarambeau has embodied the values of 4-H and inspired countless youth to pursue their goals.
Susan VanderWal, Brookings County
VanderWal’s service has extended across the state through numerous leadership and volunteer roles. For more than 30 years, she has hosted the Brookings County Livestock Judging Contest, helping youth develop valuable life skills through hands-on learning. She has also volunteered countless hours supporting State Fair exhibit judging and checkout, achievement days, special foods contests, beef quiz bowl teams, and the 4-H special foods and fashion revue committee.
VanderWal is known not only for what she does, but how she does it. She builds meaningful relationships with young people, encourages them to try new experiences and helps them develop confidence and independence.
Past Honorees
Aurora
- Ehlers, Joyce (2005)
- Clyde Olsen (2016)
Beadle
- Hansen, Tom & Marge (2002)
- Olson, Oscar (2002)
- Olson, Robert & Maxine (2002)
- Walter, LaVonne (2002)
- Hofer, Pam (2004)
- Barton, Warren (2005)
- Schoenfelder, Amy (2007)
- Magness, Gordon Jr “Cobbie” & Vi (2008)
- Mattke, Larry D (2008)
- Hupp, Bill & LaDonna (2023)
Bennett
- Nies, Gary (2002)
- Runner, Redella (2003)
Bon Homme
- Varnell, Irene (2002)
- Sutera, Florence (2004)
- Flamming-Grimme, Martha (2008)
Brookings
- Barnett, Hugh (2002)
- Miller, Gordon (2002)
- Slocum, Chuck (2002)
- Vick, Archie (2002)
- Potas, Milo (2004)
- Swartos, Jeanne (2006)
- Knutsen, Betty (2018)
Brown
- Hornaman, Mary (2002)
- Munger, Allen (2002)
- Sperry, James (2002)
- Dayton, Fae (2006)
- Karlen, Dorothy (2006)
- Mike Frey (2025)
Brule
- Geppert, Don (2002)
- Glaus, John & Florine (2002)
Butte/Lawrence
- Dobesh, Frank & Marilyn (2009)
- Tetrault, Roxie (2018)
- Reich, Ree (2021)
- Riley, Cindy (2021)
- Pochop, Mary (2022)
- Snorteland, Ida Marie (2023)
- Hespe, Marilyn (2023)
Campbell
- Deibert, Darlain (2002)
- Knable, James (2014)
- Kanable, Elaine (2017)
- Mickelson, Cathy (2022)
Charles Mix
- Gant, Patrick (2002)
- Pavel, Rudy (2005)
- Larson, Theodore (2006)
Clark
- Birkholtz, Lucille (2002)
- Fuller, Bill (2002)
- Grimes, Dolores (2002)
Clay
- Kennedy, Bill & Beverly (2010)
- Jensen, Sharron (2015)
- Williams, Margaret (2020)
Codington
- Chilson, Elsie (2002)
- Halajian, Lori (2005)
- Reichling, Mary Lois (2005)
- Thyen, Clarice (2014)
Corson
- Petik, Evelyn (2006)
Custer
- Johnson, Betty (2001)
- McColley, Marge (2002)
Davison
- Walters, Evelyn M (2004)
Deuel
- Goens, Joan (2002)
- Hanson, Lee (2002)
- Wilson, Doris M (2004)
Dewey
- Steiger, Mike (2020)
Douglas
- Goehring, Edgar (2002)
- Kaufman, Fred S (2002)
- Werkmeister, Evelyn (2019)
Edmunds
- Eisenbeisz, Allene (2002)
- Ochsner, Ruben (2002)
- Pettigrew, Alvinia (2002)
- Curtis, Dale (2017)
- Curtis, Carole (2021)
Fall River
- Cope, Wilbert & Jean (2010)
- Eldridge, Dave & Noreen (2011)
- Petty, Alberta (2011)
- Paul, Jean (2011)
- Bowman, Joyce (2018)
Faulk
- Clifford, Inez Shaw (2002)
- Schilder, Joyce (2002)
- Cuppy, Bernice (2003)
- Wood, Delano (2005)
- Larson, Maxine (2006)
- Schilder, William (2007)
Grant
- McKernan, Sandra (2004)
- Bohn, Mary (2005)
- Boe, Julie & Lowell (2015)
Gregory
- Indahl, Debora (2006)
- Jons, Diana (2019)
Haakon/Jackson
- Jorgensen, Marilyn (2002)
- Staben, Donna (2002)
- Hudson, Gene (2004)
- Piroutek, Gayla (2007)
Hamlin
- Miller, Vane (2002)
- Peterson, Joy (2004)
- Thyen, Diane (2017)
Hand
- Cahalan, Faith (2002)
- Duxbury, Robert (2002)
- Fawcett, Robert (2002)
- Johnson, Wallace (2002)
- Gerard, Phil (2015)
- Howard, Marsha (2017)
Hanson
- Jarding, Gary & Sharon (2010)
Hutchinson
- Maag, Ruby (2003)
Hyde
- Wanless, Ken (2002)
- Zilverberg, Dorothy (2003)
- Haiwick, Gary & Gloria (2008)
- Schuette, Jim & Judy (2014)
Jerauld
- Mentzer, Blanche (2002)
- Horsley, Darlene (2006)
Jones
- Noldner, Edyth (2005)
Kingsbury
- Christensen, Marlys (2002)
- Poppen, William A (2002)
- Clendening, Marlin & Jeanette (2009)
- Poppen, Bill (2022)
Lake
- Acheson, Earl & Mildred (2002)
- Lidel, Donna (2002)
- Mauf, Dorothy (2002)
- Warns, Marty (2023)
Lincoln
- Edwards, Anna Mae (2002)
- Hanson, James M. (2002)
- Nothdurft, Dorothy (2002)
- Plucker, Marlene (2002)
Marshall
- Symens, Julie (2018)
- Kraft, Mike and Rose (2018)
McPherson
- Betty & Gordon Mack (2016)
Meade
- Howie, Georgia (2002)
- Lemmel, Bernice (2002)
- Snyder, Janice Blair (2003)
- Casteel, Patricia (2020)
Miner
- Behm, Gilbert (2002)
- Lambert, Clair (2002)
- Wettlaufer, Dick (2007)
Minnehaha
- Alberty, Curt (2002)
- Lingo, Frank (2002)
- Witkop, Evelyn (2002)
- Wright, Warren & Eldora (2002)
- Zweep, Flora May (2003)
- Kringen, Sharon Kay (2006)
- Nussbaum, Richard & Leona (2008)
- TerMeer, Keith & Janice (2010)
- Steve Munk (2016)
- Grace, Gerald (Jerry) & Carmen (2017)
- Wenzlaff, James (2019)
- Kerkhove, Rich & Phyllis (2024)
Moody
- Koester, Wally (2002)
- Reed, Roger & Joan (2002)
- Jaycox, Eugene (2007)
Pennington
- Rovere, Joe (2002)
- Szakacs, Sylvia (2002)
- Willuweit, Nellie (2002)
- Helms, Ernest (2003)
- Taylor, Dick (2005)
- Maude, Marvin & Mae (2011)
- Petersen, Lyndell (2018)
- Bowman, Joyce (2018)
- Williams, Mary (2019)
- Brunner, Patty (2020)
- Elwood, Ardyce (2021)
Perkins
- Hansen, Christine (2002)
- Kolb, Patricia (2002)
- Lyon, Darrell (2002)
Potter
- Keller, Gyda (2002)
- Nagel, Stella (2014)
Roberts
- Heinje, Howard & Marcia (2003)
- Finnesand, Calvin (2020)
Sanborn
- Clarmbeau, Lois (2002)
- Zimmerman, Grace (2002)
- Ruml, Lawrence & Karen (2005)
- Moore, Melvin M (2007)
- Nelson, Robert “Gus” (2008)
- Maeschen, Janet (2018)
SDSU
- Aamot, Mary Ellen (2002)
- Bearid, Roy (2002)
- Crisman, Ima (2002)
- Gohring, Henrietta (2002)
- Hansen, Lloyd (2002)
- Heitland, Frank (2002)
- Howard, Rich (2002)
- Kortan, La Verne (2002)
- Lyle, Mary Frances (2002)
- Nelson, Ken (2002)
- Ollenburg, Ella (2002)
- Sudlow, Lee (2002)
- Younger, John & Beryl (2002)
Shannon
- Edwards, Robert (2002)
Spink
- Kettering, Keith (2002)
- Wright, Beverly (2002)
- Braun, Joy (2019)
- Vanderwal, Jeff & Beth (2022)
Stanley/Hughes
- Cowan, Willie (2002)
- Hoeppner, Sine (2002)
- Jennings, Mary (2002)
- Webb, Arnold & Dorothy (2002)
- Young, T.H. Harold (2002)
Sully
- Ripley, Nina (2002)
Tripp
- Dreyer, Dola (2004)
- Gebhart, Keith (2007)
- Kubik, Donna (2011)
- Condon, John & Marie (2014)
- Brian Burnham (2016)
Turner
- Merrill, Joyce (2002)
- Schmeichel, Betty (2002)
- Treloar, Karen (2002)
- Nelson, Lowell (2003)
- Schnose, Dorothy (2006)
- Myers, Roger & Marlene (2024)
Union
- Chicione, Roland & Evelyn (2002)
- Ericson, Audrey (2002)
- Kratochvil, May (2002)
- Kratochvil, Richard (2002)
- Vanderham, Paulette (2007)
- Hanson, Jeanne (2009)
Walworth
- Allerdings, Barbara (2002)
- Glaser, Louise (2004)
- Schanzenbach, Tami (2014)
- Schumacher, Rosalie (2018)
- Steiger, Mike (2020)
Ziebach
- Lemke, Mercedes (2002)
- Donovan, Yvonne (2003)
