Posted: 11/14/07
Three decades of devotion to 4-H
 Gwen Swenson is proud of the 4-H jacket she was given at the annual banquet in October. She has been active in Chisago County 4-H for 30 years. |
By MaryHelen Swanson
October was an exciting month for Gwen Swenson of Kost. At the annual 4-H banquet, she received recognition for her 30 years of service to the 4-H program in Chisago County.
It was natural for Swenson to get into 4-H when she moved here years ago because she grew up in the 4-H program in Bloomer, Wisc. from age 9 to 19.
While involved in many 4-H projects, her specialty was in showing cattle.
When she moved to the North Branch area, Barb Piehl who was in charge of the local 4-H program at the time, asked Swenson if she'd chaperone the overnighters at the county fair. And she did, and it continued for 13 years.
Then Swenson got involved in the Happy Hikers 4-H club.
Her service continued to spread and today she is not only the club leader but works with the county 4-H clothing project, clothing camp, is assistant superintendent of the poultry show at the county fair and "helps wherever needed."
She has even chaperoned at the State Fair.
Her family has hosted a 4-H Japanese student and a chaperone over the years.
The 4-H exchange program was a great learning experience, she said. It is more enlightening to live the daily life with an exchange family than just touring the country, she said.
She, herself, was an AFS (American Field Service) exchange student in high school.
She said there's a special bond between 4-H members. It's not so much a strong competition but more encouraging each other. The kids look forward to the county fair, she said, they connect with each other there, boys and girls of all ages.
4-H is a real family affair. Parents are so important, she said, 4-Hers with parent support get more out of it, but those who don't have that support probably need 4-H the most. 4-H has been a family activity for her husband, Jim and herself and their three children.
4-H has changed significantly since she started here in Chisago County. When clubs were very large in numbers it was easy to break into smaller groups that focused on one project. Today, the countywide programs help to bring together those interested in individual projects.
4-H has changed over the years to also reflect the changing interests of the youths, such as computers.
She wouldn't be surprised if someday there was an internet 4-H club, or maybe a chat line with 4-Hers sharing their ideas and experiences with other 4-Hers.
In all the changes, Swenson sees one constant. She believes it has been the volunteers and families that have allowed the program to survive. And Swenson says 4-H continues to garner community support.
4-H sticks with you for life. She believes you could call on a 4-H alumni and ask for some help and they'd say yes because of their own special memories of their time in 4-H.
"I love seeing the kids involved, "she said. Swenson has seen the value in trying new things in 4-H. Even if a youth gives a project a try and it fails, lessons have been learned.
This dedicated 4-H volunteer and mother of three, two grown sons and a daughter, received a standing ovation at the banquet for her dedication to the program for three decades. She received a special pin and a jacket with the 4-H emblem on the back.
4-H, she concluded, is a good way to bring adults and kids together in a safe environment.
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