Iowa 4-H Foundation

Posted on April 5, 2011 at 1:16 PM by Global Reach

Norman Mokelstad4-H’rs attending, Chicago 4-H trip, and many other events.

He helped with all 4-H Club tours held each year.  Each 4-H’r explained their exhibit during the tours and it was a good learning experience for 4-H’rs, parents, and others who attended.  Many livestock judging workshops were held in the county during the tours.  4-H’rs placed animals and gave oral reasons to practice for judging contests and to learn how to select the best livestock.

Norm judged at the Iowa State Fair and several county fairs. Since retiring from Humboldt County in 1986, he has continued judging in many counties.  “The big improvement in judging 4-H exhibits at fairs is the 4-H conference judging”, says Norm.  In each case, the 4-H’r explains his or her work, what they learned, what their goals were, how their exhibit was made, and their plans for next year.

He judged exhibits in the areas of science and mechanics, Ag and Natural Resources, and gardening at fairs.  4-H’rs have the opportunity to select and develop so many different exhibits.

Fairs are just “one part” of the total learning experience for youth involved with 4-H programs.  Norm says an exhibit is “one part” of participation in a subject matter project area.  Each 4-H’r is a winner for trying a new experience.  During the conference judging, he tries to evaluate, educate, and encourage the 4-H’r.

In Humboldt County, he conducted many extension programs and information on crops, livestock, farm management, and other special extension programs.  He helped organize and worked with all crop and livestock community groups. He carried on a huge narrow row soybean field test, 15” vs. 30” row spacing’s.  In addition, grain drills and no-till planting of soybeans was compared over the years.  

Norm has enjoyed working with 4-H’rs, parents, and farmers during the past 45 years.  Norm and his wife, Mavis, have four children; Nancy, Tim, Mark, and Teresa and also have 10 grandchildren.

tribute gift

Categories: Humboldt

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