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 Aug. 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.
2021 Honorees
Ree Reich, Butte County
Recognized for her 40-plus years of volunteering with the South Dakota 4-H Positive Youth Development program and Butte County, Ree Reich is often described as “an individual who leaves an amazing footprint of legacy wherever she goes.” She has served on the local Redwater Youth Leadership Foundation and the Executive Committee for the Western Junior event for many years. Her expertise, intense passion and loyalty have been poured into thousands of lives, youth and elders, on behalf of 4-H. Outside of 4-H, Reich volunteers at church, the Belle Fourche Long-Term Care Sunday services and weekly sing-a-longs, Meals on Wheels and the Belle Fourche grade schools. She has been involved in the Cowboy Band for more than 30 years, as well as the Mixed Company singing group and other community choirs in the tri-state area.
Cindy Riley, Butte County
Cindy Riley has built a prolific 4-H resume with 33 years of service to Butte County and the South Dakota 4-H program. In 1980, Riley started a “little girls club,” which evolved into what is still known today as “4-H Club, Center of The Nation.” She has also served as volunteer leader for the Crow Peak Valley Rangers. Riley spent many years, with her newlywed husband back in the day, leading the local Junior Leaders youth group. She has served as a 4-H judge in many areas and even led a local 4-H food stand during the county fair. Riley continues to work with 4-H youth and their families while serving as the administrative assistant for Butte County 4-H and in the Extension Club, where members complete countless community service hours and share their expertise with a diverse community population.
Ardyce Elwood, Pennington County
With 50 years of service to Pennington County and South Dakota 4-H, Ardyce Elwood has had a lasting impact on many 4-H Families. When her oldest son was eligible for 4-H, she made the decision to become a volunteer leader and continued that service during her daughter’s tenure and now with her grandchildren. Elwood has led three different clubs, including the Valley Rangers and Triceratops. As a member of the Leaders Association, she volunteered to judge, run food booths, lead judging schools for going to state, organize measuring contests and more. She has also volunteered for the Western Junior show, running the rabbit show for several years and gathering donations for 4-H member recognition. Elwood is known for transporting 4-H members in her van on tours around the hills to learn about different rocks and minerals, as well as to the state fair each year. She has been recognized as a State 4-H Leader and attended the National 4-H Convention in Washington D.C.
Carole Curtis, Edmunds County
For 45 years, Carole Curtis has been a prominent figure in keeping 4-H programming going in Edmunds County. She started her career as an Extension Educator in Edmunds County in 1976, putting on many youth programs, including safety camps, judging schools and quiz bowls. She also started a 4-H club in Ipswich, which she continues to lead. Following her retirement, Curtis helped new 4-H staff become familiar with her job and people in the community. She has also stepped up when Edmunds County was without an educator, filling the gap and making sure 4-H members continued to have the opportunity to participate at their county achievement days. Her 4-H club is known for its community service efforts, and Curtis also personally serves the community as a member of the development corporation and on the Trail Days committee.
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)
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)
Brule
- Geppert, Don (2002)
- Glaus, John & Florine (2002)
Butte/Lawrence
- Dobesh, Frank & Marilyn (2009)
- Tetrault, Roxie (2018)
- Reich, Ree (2021)
- Riley, Cindy (2021)
Campbell
- Deibert, Darlain (2002)
- Knable, James (2014)
- Kanable, Elaine (2017)
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)
Lake
- Acheson, Earl & Mildred (2002)
- Lidel, Donna (2002)
- Mauf, Dorothy (2002)
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)
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)
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)
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)
