Posted on August 25, 2017 at 9:40 AM by Emily Saveraid
Harris and Dianna Haywood are committed to making the Hardin County 4-H Program a rewarding experience for its youth. Whether it’s volunteering their time and labor to help at the fair, or organizing special projects and fair events, they are a couple that has truly made an impact in the lives of Hardin County 4-H’ers.
Harris began his 4-H career as an active Union Whitten Hustler, participating in many county and state activities, including the Citizenship-Washington Focus trip. When he and Dianna’s children Brant, Blake and Corey were old enough, they all were encouraged to join 4-H and to take advantage of everything it had to offer. The kids enjoyed showing their livestock and other exhibits at the fair, and 4-H became a large part of the family’s life.
Dianna’s 4-H involvement began with her sons, but she too devoted a lot of time to the program. She served on the Youth Committee for eight years until she and Harris found a new calling within the program. Hardin County used to hold live animal auctions at the conclusion of fair. This was the tradition for decades until over fifteen years ago when Harris and Dianna noticed that the kids with beef projects were not being quoted fair prices for their calves. Beef producers themselves, Harris and Dianna decided to purchase many of the cattle at better prices to benefit the 4-Hers. Believing that there had to be a better long-term solution, they began brainstorming other ideas. The result was establishing a ribbon auction at the conclusion of fair where donors would, instead of buying live animals, contribute money to ribbons that they could display in their businesses. Harris and Dianna have served on the Ribbon Auction Committee since its inception, a program that has raised many funds for both Hardin County 4-Hers and the Hardin County 4-H Program.
Harris and Dianna have a passion for teaching youth about agriculture. For many years, they served as Market Beef Feeder Pen superintendents. Their work here doesn’t begin at the fair. The Haywoods host several meetings throughout the year for Feeder Pen participants, helping them learn more about their project and understanding the records that are part of the project. They have also sponsored pens of cattle for participants.
For these reasons, we are truly honored to name Harris and Dianna Haywood of rural Union as Hardin County’s Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame recipients for 2017.
