2005 Des Moines County - Cecil E. Krekel & Gene R. Krekel

Cecil E. Krekel helped organize and became the first president of the Burlington Harvesters 4-H Club in the 1920’s. In 1929, his last year as a 4-H member, he was selected as a delegate to the National 4-H Congress. In 1929 he became a leader of his 4-H club and served in that capacity for more than 55 years. In 1974, he received the Distinguished Service Award from Extension and in 1987 was recognized at the local and national level for having served as a 4-H leader for 55 years. In the 1930’s, Cecil was cited for leadership at the Tri-State Fair, a predecessor to the Des Moines County Fair. He served as Dairy Superintendent of the Des Moines County Fair for more than 20 years and his service to the fair was recognized in 1974. He was one of those rare individuals who drew strength from his work with 4-H members and his legacy is the many individuals who were members of the Burlington Harvesters and who remain active in 4-H and in service to their community. Both of his sons and all four grandchildren have participated in 4-H.

Gene R. Krekel, Cecil’s oldest son, served as president of the Burlington Harvesters, was Des Moines County 4-H President and was selected as outstanding Des Moines County 4-H boy in the late 1950’s. Gene showed dairy cattle at the local and state fairs. He won the 4-H Dairy judging contest at the National Dairy Cattle Congress in 1959 and was a delegate to the National 4-H Congress. Upon his return to Des Moines County, Gene helped organize the Burlington Explorers 4-H Club and received his 20 year pin as club leader in 2004. He has served as director of the Des Moines County Fair for more than 25 years and as president for six years. Following in his father’s footsteps, he served on the 4-H dairy committee for more than 20 years and currently serves on the 4-H Youth Committee as a Fair Board liaison.