Posted on August 18, 2014 at 8:26 AM by Global Reach
The time and commitment that Roberta Hersom of Emmetsburg has committed to supporting and improving 4-H in Palo Alto County has been truly astonishing. She has been a 4-H organizational leader for the Junior Clippers 4-H Club for the past fifteen years. Through the years she has taught members many valuable life skills. Her enthusiasm for 4-H has drawn many young members to her club. She is to be commended for her organizational skills, keeping members up-to-date on the club and county happenings and organizing fun and educational meetings. Roberta has spent many hours judging exhibits at surrounding fairs and sharing her knowledge and expertise with other 4-Hers and parents.
Roberta Hersom grew up in Eastern Illinois on a farm, joining 4-H when she was in the 4th grade. She enjoyed taking sewing, baking, and photography projects to the county fair. Her family moved to Moline, IL in 1972. Roberta attended college at Western Illinois University, receiving a Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology. She then traveled to Emmetsburg, IA to work as a Speech and Language Pathologist at AEA 3 in Cylinder and later as Zone Coordinator for Prairie Lakes AEA 8 from 2003 through 2010.
In 1977, she met Ronald Hersom of Curlew and they were married in 1980. They had two daughters, Laura and Beth, both who were very active in the Palo Alto County 4-H program. After 33 years in speech and language pathology, she left the AEA and has spent the last four years as the Regional Education Program Coordinator at Buena Vista University. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, gardening, and spending quality time with family and friends.
In 2007 Roberta was awarded the 4-H Alumni Award at the county awards banquet for her contributions to 4-H and now Palo Alto County is proud and honored to have her as their 2014 inductee to the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.
Categories: Palo Alto
