2018 Buena Vista County: Leann Baumhover

Leann (Schwandt) Baumhover began her 4-H career as an eager 4^th grader in Hamilton County.   She was a nine year member of the Williams Hustling Homemakers 4-H Club.  Later during her college summers, she was the summer 4-H assistant in Wright County. Upon college graduation and moving to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, she quickly sought out local 4-H opportunities and soon found herself on the Camden County Extension Council for two terms. 

Years later Leann returned to Iowa, and with her husband, Bryan, raised three daughters. Two of these daughters developed the same love for the 4-H program as Leann exhibited. While the children were younger, Leann served on the Buena Vista County Extension Council.  Soon after the girls began 4-H, she agreed to become a leader of their club, the Providence Go-Getters, and even though the girls have gone off to college and one has graduated, she still remains a devoted 4-H leader and workshop facilitator.

For many years, the highlight of Leann’s summer has been judging 4-Hers at local county fairs around northwest Iowa. After being a seamstress for 35 years, Leann’s favorite areas to judge are Clothing and Fashion, Sewing and Needle Arts areas, but she enjoys judging 4-Hers in a variety of other areas as well. In addition, Leann has judged Iowa State Fair 4-H exhibits the past four years, and also the 4-H Awardrobe event at the Iowa State Fair. She also served as an evaluator for State Project Awards and State 4-H Council positions.

Leann’s real passion is helping young 4-H’ers learn life skills through their 4-H projects and experiences. She goes the extra mile to encourage and help find opportunities for     4-Hers, and remains their biggest cheerleader watching them grow and mature to successful senior 4-Hers and beyond! Leann has mentored countless individual 4-Hers in her home, including youth that aren’t in her club or even her county. From showing how to write a goal card, to putting a complete record book together, or leading a workshop, Leann patiently helps 4-Her after 4-Her. She really lives our 4-H motto, “To Make the Best Better”.

Leann and her husband, Bryan, live on an acreage south of Storm Lake, where the family seems to live and breathe “green”.  Leann works part-time as an office assistant in the Buena Vista County Extension Office; daughter Brynna is the Crawford County youth coordinator; daughter Brea is the 4-H summer intern for Buena Vista County, as well as an officer for the Collegiate 4-H Club at Iowa State.