PEKIN, Ill. - Service is a hallmark of the Illinois 4-H program. The Illinois 4-H Foundation annually honors longtime volunteers and former staff members for their selfless dedication to 4-H, the University of Illinois Extension youth development program.

In 2020, 87 individuals received the Foundation Hall of Fame Award, presented during a virtual ceremony Aug. 18.  Five of the honorees are being named posthumously.

Locally, the following volunteers were inducted: Teresa and Shawn Lane of Fulton County, Carol Breedlove of Mason County, Martha Eberley of Peoria County, and Dean Beutel of Tazewell County.

Teresa and Shawn Lane of Cuba have been leaders of the Big Ten 4-H Club for 20 years. Their club is very active with both livestock and general projects and they do community service work.  Teresa and Shawn have two sons – Wyatt, who has aged out of 4-H, and Wayde, a current member.  Shawn also helps with the Sheep Show at the Fulton County Fair.

Carol Breedlove was a 10-year member of the Merry Maidens 4-H club in Mason County. She participated in sewing, gardening, floriculture, and cooking projects. She was a leader of the Kountry Kritters 4-H Club in Manito, IL for over 20 years.  Carol led the club to contribute a number of community service projects which include, annually planting flowers at the town park, caroling at the nursing home, food pantry work, and participating in local festivals and parades. Carol was a great leader to one of the largest clubs in the county, which included three of her own children as members.

Martha Eberley has been involved in 4-H for most of her life. Martha became involved first as a 4-H member and then as a 4-H parent and 4-H club leader. Martha was leader of the Horse Hustlers 4-H club in Peoria County for 15 years and for over 30 years been involved with the 4-H horse department. She is also a member of the 4-H Auction Committee. Martha has shared her knowledge and skills in the horse project with many youth over the years. She is a great mentor and dedicated supporter of the 4-H program.

A born and raised in Tazewell County, Dean Beutel, has gone above and beyond in his own 4-H career. Dean has been a steadfast volunteer to the county’s 4-H program for many years, serving as a club leader for two clubs and most recently, as one of the Poultry Department Superintendents for nearly 23 years. Dean’s commitment and dedication to Tazewell’s 4-H youth is undeniable, especially when you see his engagement with the poultry exhibitors. The department is one huge family because of the camaraderie the superintendents have built and fostered among the youth. Though Dean retired from his 4-H volunteer role in late 2019, we still expect to see him around, as the fourth generation of Beutel children are active members in Tazewell 4-H.

The Illinois 4-H Foundation established the statewide Hall of Fame in 2005 to honor and celebrate extraordinary 4-H alumni, volunteers, and former 4-H staff. Each inductee receives a commemorative Hall of Fame medallion.

“These volunteers fully embody what 4-H strives to instill in youth,” says Angie Barnard, Illinois 4-H Foundation executive director. “They are caring, dedicated, generous leaders, and the Illinois 4-H Foundation is extremely proud to be able to provide this honor to thank them for their service to this wonderful organization.

Illinois 4-H programs reach nearly 200,000 youth each year through 4-H clubs, camps, educational programs, workshops, and conferences held in communities, schools, parks, and homes across Illinois. In total, more than 15,000 volunteers fill key leadership and mentoring roles.

“Many volunteers have a tradition of 4-H in their family or were 4-H members themselves,” Barnard says. “More and more, though, adults brand new to the 4-H experience are seeing the value of the life skills development program and volunteering for the first time.”

To volunteer in your community, one may request information from the local Extension office. “There is a place for everyone in 4-H, whether you have an hour or a lifetime to give,” Barnard says.

The 2020 Hall of fame winners include:

Leon Obert, Adams County; Carmen Birk-Martin, Alexander County; Cathy Simmonds, Bond County;  Robert (Bob) Walberg, Boone County; Becky Erbsen, Carroll County; Todd Burrus, Cass County; Andy Hughes, Champaign County; Jessie Crews, Clark County; Cathy Schnepper, Clay County; Michelle Wegmann, Clinton County; Mark Cox, Coles County; and the late Madeline Harris Crawford County; Josh Milliman, Cumberland County; William Kuhn, DeKalb County; Megan Barth, Dewitt County;

Dr. Pennie Crinion, DuPage County; Meggan Cash, Edgar County; Don W. St Ledger, Edwards County; Tom and Bernie Haarmann, Effingham County; Connie Loschen, Ford County; Teresa and Shawn Lane, Fulton County; Donna Cockream, Grundy County; Deanna Erwin, Hamilton County; Teresa Guymon, Hancock County; Dan and Melinda Horton, Henderson County; and Larry Haigh, Iroquois County;

Randy Bierman, Jasper County; Sandra (Sandy) Bechtold, Jersey County; Helen Muto, Jo Daviess County; Georgia Vinson, Johnson County; Bonnie Kararo, Kane County; Gary Kohl, Kankakee County; Jodi Brummel, Kendall County; Roger (Pete) Holmes, Knox County; Lisa Kleber, Lake County; Kerry Hill, Lawrence County; Nancy Wadsworth, Lee County; Gail and the late Ellen Rapp, Livingston County; Stacie Skelton, Logan County;  Rick Spencer, Macoupin County; and Lynn Weis, Madison County;

Terry Mulvany, Marion County; Carol Breedlove, Mason County; Tammie Obermark, Massac County; Sherry Lowderman, McDonough County; Robert (Bob) Gallagher, McHenry County; Sid Parks, McLean County; Jeffrey (Jeff) Sampson, Menard County; Brenda Close, Mercer County; Pam Jacobs, Monroe County; the late Phil Crouch, Montgomery County; Jay Harris, Morgan County; Erik Stollard, Moultrie County; Cheryl Price, Ogle County; and Martha Eberley, Peoria County;

Dr. Nathan Pyatt, Piatt County; Marianne Adams, Pike County; Julie Barger, Pope County; Flora Helman, Pulaski County; Jenny Hancock, Richland County; Keith Gorham, Rock Island County; Daniel (Danny) Evans, Saline County; the late Woody Woodruff, Sangamon County; Sandy Brix, Shelby County; Denise Godfrey, St. Clair County; Bill Million, State 4-H; Deb Stocker, State 4-H; the late Sheri Seibold, State 4-H; Stephanie Mitchell, Stephenson County; Dean Beutel, Tazewell County; and Jim and Cindy Walker, Union County;

Nancy Boose, Vermilion County; Gill Sanders, Wabash County; Robin Corzatt, Warren County; Dustin Unverfehrt, Washington County; Phyllis Hilliard Wilks, Wayne County; Liz Masterson, White County; Karen Temple, Whiteside County; Nancy Kuhajda, Will County;  Don Elliott, Williamson County; Kathy Palmer, Winnebago County; and Terri Kuebler, Woodford County.

“The Foundation provides avenues to support the work of Illinois 4-H by accepting financial gifts specifically directed to the program you wish to support,” Barnard said. “Estate planning services are available to those wishing to continue their 4-H legacy.”

The Illinois 4-H Foundation raises private funds that are invested in Illinois 4-H programs that provide meaningful, positive development experiences for Illinois youth to develop leadership, citizenship, and life skills. To learn more, visit: 4hfoundation.illinois.edu.

About 4-H: Illinois 4-H empowers and prepares Illinois youth for success. University of Illinois Extension provides 4-H programs in every county in Illinois, affecting the lives of 200,000 youth each year through sustained learning clubs, groups and short-term programming.

For Further Information Contact:

News Source: Angie Barnard, Illinois 4-H Foundation Executive Director, 217-333-0333

News Writer: Judy Mae Bingman