2012 Polk County- Mike & Sheri Cory

Mike and Sheri Cory have been involved in Polk County 4-H for over thirty years.  The Cory’s are lifelong residents of Polk County and in 1965 Mike Joined the Elkhart Rising Son’s 4-H Club, a club founded by his father and fellow 4-H Hall of Fame inductee Ira Cory.  He was heavily involved in the Beef, Sheep, and Horse project areas throughout his 4-H career.  In 1975 Mike married Sheri and they began farming full time on Mike’s family farm.  Their three sons were also involved in 4-H and in 1985 Sheri became a 4-H club leader for Mike’s old club.  The Cory’s have shared their knowledge of the beef and sheep industry with the youth in the club and they have  hosted many livestock workshops at their home. 

Mike and Sheri have been a fixture of the Polk County Fair and the Iowa State Fair.    For over thirty years Mike has been a member of the Polk County Fair Board, and he took over running of the Iowa State Fair 4-H Barbeque from his father in 1970.  He’s volunteered to work with the Iowa State Fair sheep show for the past 32 years and has been a livestock superintendent for the Polk County fair.  Mike and Sheri have donated time, trophies, and livestock supplies in their sponsorship of the Polk County Bucket Bottle Calf, Junior Feeder, Market Heifer, and Open Sheep Show Classes.

Mike and Sheri’s enthusiasm for 4-H has continued with the next generation of Cory’s as well.  They are helping their oldest grandson Justyce with his sheep and beef projects as he becomes a fourth generation of Cory’s participating in the Polk County 4-H Program.  It is truly an honor to have such outstanding examples of 4-H ideals as we have here with the Cory Family.