Posted on August 26, 2016 at 8:46 AM by Emily Saveraid
John F. Schneider grew up on a farm in Washington County, where he was an active member of 4-H for nine years and enjoyed exhibiting livestock. As a youth, John enjoyed being a member of the Washington County Council and participating in state livestock judging competitions. After 4-H he took over as club leader from is dad, Elmer Schneider, also a 4-H Hall of Fame member, until he and his wife Carol bought a farm in Johnson County where they still live and operate today.
John helped to restart an inactive club and became a club leader when his three children, Jessica, Jason and Matthew enrolled as members. As his children ended their 4-H careers, John ended his club leadership duties but began a new chapter as the beef superintendent for the county. He continues to hold this title. As beef superintendent, John implemented a beef carcass division. This is a division where over two-thirds of the market cattle exhibited voluntarily participate each year. In addition, John saw the need for a livestock judging competition and used his knowledge and passion to start this competition from scratch. Today this event is a top priority for many livestock youth. It continues to bring in well over 100 members, including local FFA chapters, to compete as teams and individuals. John’s love for animals does not stop with just beef, he also had the privilege to work on the sheep committee.
As the years passed, he and his children have been able to help multiple nieces and nephews participate in 4-H. Helping them has provided some of the best memories they still talk about today. He cannot wait for his grandchildren to start their 4-H careers. John served on the Johnson County Extension Council for eight years and is currently running for his third term.
Volunteers like John do not come around every day. Johnson County 4-H members, past and present, are lucky to have been able to have such a dedicated volunteer. Johnson County 4-H is proud and incredibly blessed to have John Schneider in their 4-H family and very happy he is now recognized through the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame. John is an example of an outstanding 4-H volunteer and a 4-H parent. He is always offering a lending hand, he encourages teamwork and he understands the importance of our youth learning life skills through 4-H.
Johnson County is proud to have him as a volunteer and to honor him.
Categories: Johnson
