The annual conference of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach was held March 26 at the Scheman Building in Ames. The one-day conference’s agenda included an appreciation of individual strengths and a celebration of milestones and major achievements, and few achievements can match those of Lorna Grow of Dallas Center, for 52 years a leader of the Sugar Grove Sunshine 4-H Club.
Grow has led the Sugar Grove Sunshine Club for more than half of its 102-year history. It is the oldest club in Dallas County, and under Grow’s direction is the largest and most active club in Dallas County.
Jeff Jackson, executive director of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, said Grow “faithfully works with the student leaders in the Sugar Grove Sunshine 4-H Club to help them not only impact their community but to develop as leaders themselves. Usually during the first meeting of the year, Lorna works with the students to understand the values of 4-H, how to be ladies and gentleman, to treat others with respect, to work hard to make a difference to others and be a leader for the good of the group.”
A recent example of Grow’s tireless commitment to 4-H is the club’s partnership with the National Weather Service (NWS) and participation in their annual open house. Grow mobilized the Sugar Grove Sunshine members to make and present exhibits on weather-related STEM crafts, working with her club leaders, parents and members to research and develop four different take-home learning projects to present at the NWS open house.
The projects included home-made barometers, homemade anemometers, tornados in a bottle and an exhibit of how fog is made, and Grow secured materials for the hundreds of youth and adults attending the NWS event to take home the projects.
“The data shared even impressed the Meteorologists of the NWS,” Jackson said. “The level of learning and coordination that went into making this event a success came from Lorna’s hard work with her club. She scheduled over 15 youth from the club to be there. Her leadership is so strong that even the staff of the National Weather Service was seeking Lorna’s advice on tent placement, schedule of events and the like.”
As if 52 years of service were not enough of a commitment, Grow continues to serve the youth of Dallas County, visiting the Extension office at least once a week to meet with staff and provide hugs, food and support.
“Lorna is recognized throughout Dallas County for her support and work in 4-H and easily is the face of what a dedicated volunteer looks like,” Jackson said. He said she even goes as far as housing a student from the club in her home before club meetings in order to save the student’s family a long drive and so the student can still be a part of the club.
“It goes to show that being a good person, working hard for your community, showing kindness to others and developing student leaders is something volunteers of all ages can do, and you never become too old,” Jackson said.
In December Grow received a tribute on the floor of the U.S. Congress in honor of her achievements. In spite of these accolades, Grow still takes a practical approach to 4-H leadership, as she showed last Saturday, when the Dallas County 4-H and Clover Kids clubs hosted a county-wide service learning project at the Dallas County Fairgrounds.
“You can do it, too,” Grow said to the younger club leaders. “You can touch a lot of kids’ lives and make a difference. It’s no different from me. You just have to keep active and keep at it.”
