4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame

Jenae K. Hansen-Gross and Tim Tanner with Mary Pochop, a 2022 4-H Hall of Fame recipient
From Left: Jenae K. Hansen-Gross, SDSU Extension 4-H Volunteer Development Field Specialist, Mary Pochop, 2022 4-H Hall of Fame recipient and Tim Tanner, South Dakota 4-H Program Director

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.

Nominate a Volunteer

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.

2024 Honorees

South Dakota 4-H Hall of Fame honoree Marlene Meyers

Roger and Marlene Myers, Tripp County
Marlene and the late Roger Myers began their relationship with SDSU Extension 4-H in 1985 when their oldest daughter became a member of the Clovervale 4-H Club in Southern Tripp County. They quickly stepped into roles as co-leaders hosted many special events at their home, including showmanship practice, animal care workshops and livestock judging contests. 

Roger was one of the founding members of the Tripp County 4-H Trust Fund, which was instrumental in keeping the program financed for today’s youth and generations to come. Both stood as advocates for the program, making sure that anyone who wanted to participate. Their dedication aided in the growth, expansion and improvements of the Tripp County 4-H program, having a trickle-up effect to other counties and the state program. Roger and Marlene worked hard to instill the meaning of 4-H not only in their own kids, but all the kids they had an opportunity to mentor. 

SD 4-H hall of fame honoree Phyllis Kerkhove

Rich and Phyllis Kerkhove, Minnehaha County
Rich and Phyllis Kerkhove have been stapled of the rabbit, poultry and dog project areas in Minnehaha County since 1988. They have spent countless hours working to improve the project area. 

After Rich’s passing in 1999, Phyllis continued to provide leadership for the Minnehaha County dog project and help with the poultry and rabbit projects. Through her leadership, she has organized and led practices, fundraised to purchase equipment and provided mentorship to new families interested in leading the project area. Phyllis can often be found playing games with kids, helping them handle animals and showing them grooming techniques

Numerous families have had their 4-H experience improved by seeing Rich and Phyllis’s smiling faces and the encouragement they brought. Both are shining examples of what a 4-H volunteer should do by sharing passion and knowledge with 4-Hers. 

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)

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)

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)

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)

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