Contact: Emily Saveraid, Executive Director, Iowa 4-H Foundation: esaver@iastate.edu, 515-294-1552
The Successful Farming/Loren Kruse Outstanding Iowa 4-H Leader award is presented each year to an adult volunteer who has encouraged, challenged, and inspired Iowa 4-H members to achieve at their fullest potential. This year’s recipient is Neil Lansing of West Union in Fayette County. Lansing is the current leader of the Eldorado Eagles 4-H Club.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fayette County’s Neil Lansing Named 2018 Outstanding 4-H Leader
Iowa 4-H Foundation awards the sixth annual Successful Farming/Loren Kruse Outstanding
Iowa 4-H Leader Award at the 2018 Iowa State Fair
AMES, Iowa – The Successful Farming/Loren Kruse Outstanding Iowa 4-H Leader award is presented each year to an adult volunteer who has encouraged, challenged, and inspired Iowa 4-H members to achieve at their fullest potential. This year’s recipient is Neil Lansing of West Union in Fayette County. Lansing is the current leader of the Eldorado Eagles 4-H Club.
Current or past 4-H members make award nominations. Lansing was nominated by current 4-H club member, Jordan Kuhn.
Kuhn says, “Working with Neil has taught me how to be responsible, a lot about being a good leader, and has helped build my confidence level and self-esteem. I would have not been able to show dairy cattle if it hadn't been for Neil. Neil always has time for youth and teaches them the importance of community involvement by encouraging 4-H members to be involved. Neil’s goal is for each 4-H member to be successful and get the most out of 4-H.”
Lansing has been a 4-H leader for more than 40 years starting as a Fayette County 4-H club leader right after graduating from high school and continuing to serve that same club to this day. The Eldorado Eagles are very active in West Union where community service is an important aspect. Lansing also encourages club members to become involved in the Dairy project, offering up his own animals for club member to raised and keep at his farm.
As co-advisor to the County 4-H Council and the Northeast Area Council, Lansing is committed to ensuring opportunities for young people. The Pine Bluff 4-H Camp also holds a special place for Lansing in addition to chaperoning for the State 4-H Conference and Citizenship Washington Focus.
Lansing has been honored for his commitment to 4-H. He and his wife Julie were named the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame recipients in 2013, representing Fayette County. He also received the 40 year Award of the Clover in the fall of 2017
Lansing’s dedication extends beyond the 4-H community. In addition to serving the 4-H Program, Lansing is also serves on the Fayette County Extension Council, the Knights of Columbus, the Fayette Men’s Bowling League and serves on the senior scholarship committee.
The Successful Farming/Loren Kruse Outstanding Iowa 4-H Leader Award comes with a $1,000 grant, which the honoree can designate back to Iowa 4-H through their club, county or state foundations. The award was established by Meredith Corporation and the Edwin T. Meredith Foundation through the Iowa 4-H Foundation in honor of Loren Kruse’s retirement as editor-in-chief of Successful Farming magazine. Kruse credits the outstanding guidance provided by his 4-H club leader for the successes he achieved as an adult.
The Iowa 4-H Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and provides the private financial resources to develop and deliver quality 4-H youth programs throughout the state of Iowa. These opportunities help young people enhance their ability to use critical thinking, leadership, communication, and social skills – tools that will give them a competitive edge in their future endeavors.
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Cutline: Neil Lansing (left) accepts the Successful Farming/Loren Kruse Outstanding Iowa 4-H Leader Award from Emily Saveraid (left), Executive Director of the Iowa 4-H Foundation, at the Iowa State Fair on August 19, 2018.
