Posted on August 21, 2018 at 2:35 PM by Global Reach
Charlie Elser, the 2018 Clay County Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame honoree, has been involved with county 4-H programming for almost 40 years. Charlie was not a 4-H member as a youth, but worked hard with his boys on livestock and static projects. Charlie began as a swine committee member in 1982, then a committee co-chair in 1994. He was a founding member of the county’s Endowment Committee and a Clay County 4-H Executive Board member. Charlie and others founded the endowment in order to fund Citizenship Washington Focus scholarships for 4-H’ers, as well as other leadership and learning opportunities for youth in Clay County. 
Charlie has been involved in organizational meetings, planning meetings, fair evaluation meetings, educational workshops, swine identification events, swine shows, 4-H Foundation fundraisers, and record book judging. He is notably credited with designing and constructing a “cherry picker” style scale for weighing 4-H swine in order to address bio-security concerns during widespread swine disease outbreaks in the 1990’s. His leadership and service has influenced thousands of area and regional 4-H members during the annual Clay County Fair.
Since 1996, Charlie has been an active member of the Clay County Fair Association Board and Executive Committee since 1998, and is the board president this year. The relationship between the fair board and Clay County 4-H programming has truly benefitted from Charlie’s strong ties and dedication to the 4-H Youth Development Program.
In 2004, Charlie was appropriately recognized for his county volunteer service with a 4-H Meritorious Service Award. Swine committee co-chair, Randall Anderson, said, “Charlie always puts 4-H youth and the 4-H programs of Clay County first in his commitment and dedication to our area youth. He believes in the opportunities 4-H can provide youth and he works to provide encouragement and guidance to those 4-Hers!”
Charlie and his wife, Donna, continue to be active in the local agriculture industry as well as a family farming operation near Spencer, Iowa. Their three grown sons were active in 4-H, and now have multiple grandchildren who are involved in the 4-H program. Charlie is proud to be involved with the next generation of 4-H members.
Congratulations, Charlie on this well-deserved recognition.
