2015 Hardin County- Richelle Stowe

She’s been a 4-Her for life – literally.  Since before she could walk, Richelle Stowe was attending Pleasant Peppy Teens 4-H meetings with her six older sisters and her mother, who was the leader of the club.  When she was finally able to join the club, she thrived in the areas of sewing, food and nutrition, home improvement, and presentation skills.  Richelle was a nine year member of the club, and after returning from college, she was a co-leader with her aunt.  She had a goal to give the same work ethic she had learned through 4-H to each of the members and to pass on the importance of volunteerism.

In 2007, Richelle saw a demand for a 4-H club in Eldora, and she took the opportunity to start a club from the ground up.  She, along with Teresa Stansbury, began the Eldora Eagles 4-H Club with a mere 12 members.  In just a few short years, the club has grown to over triple the size it was when it started. 

The Eldora Eagles continues to be very active in the community of Eldora, doing everything from volunteering at the local Farm Museum, attending workshops and purchasing Christmas gifts for nursing home residents.  Each year, Richelle has organized and carried out multiple club workshops.  She has been instrumental in helping the members of her club learn the fundamentals of sewing, baking, woodworking, and other areas of interest.  She encourages her members to find a passion and to pursue that passion wholeheartedly.

Richelle pours her heart and soul into everything she does.  She and her husband, Craig, have instilled a work ethic that brought out the best in their family and what was needed to succeed in life.  Richelle currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Hardin County Farm Museum in Eldora, where she spends much of her spare time volunteering.  She is also an active member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Eldora, where she has served in numerous positions and on various committees throughout the years.  Richelle continues to show others, through hours of volunteer service, what it means to give back to a community. 

Richelle’s passion for 4-H and the youth of Hardin County has not gone unnoticed, and we thank her for her years of dedication.