Posted on August 21, 2018 at 3:33 PM by Global Reach
Was she a 4-Her? Yes she was. Was he a 4-Her? Yes he was. Did they raise their family in 4-H? Yes, of course they did! 
But this year’s inductees for the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame from Louisa County are not being inducted for the time they spent in 4-H as members or parents or leaders. This year’s inductees are being specifically recognized for what they have done for 4-H SINCE their family “graduated” from the program.
Think about this for a minute, if you start in 4-H as a Clover Kid in Louisa County and you stay in 4-H until you graduate you would be a member for 13…almost 14 years. Whew – that’s a long time! But it’s not as long a time as this lady was the superintendent of the 4-H Static Exhibit Hall at the fair. LuAnn Everett was superintendent of static exhibits for 18 years – culminating with the 125th year of the fair in 2017. For that alone she should get a standing ovation! Think of the changes – in ribbons, premiums, classes and the places and ways the judging was done! By her side all those years was her husband, Jim Everett, helping LuAnn every step of the way. But Jim is not one to be overshadowed by anyone – not even his talented, tireless wife.
In the midst of these last 18 years Jim decided to be a founding member of the Louisa County 4-H Foundation and has been a member or officer of the group ever since. You think 18 years as superintendent of the static exhibits sounds like a lot of work – think about 16 years raising money! Jim has been the leader of the charge for the two endowment funds which currently total nearly $50,000 that give back money directly to Louisa County 4-H each year – and will forever.
If you are a 4-H member in Louisa County today, membership fees are being paid completely by funds Jim helped raise. When a challenge was issued by the Community Foundation of Louisa County to raise $9,000 in 6 months in order to garner a $1,000 matching gift and start an endowment, Jim raised the money in less than 4 weeks – with personal visits and phone calls.
Of course, LuAnn has worked side-by-side with him in the foundation work, just as he has helped with her position as 4-H superintendent. LuAnn cooked meat for the Grandview 4th of July Food Stand; she whipped up roasters and roasters of soup for the annual soup supper; she was there to help with ticket sales, root beer floats, test drives and whatever other crazy idea Jim came up with for a fundraiser.
When you have either Jim or LuAnn on your side you know you will be getting the exponential power of both of them – and for these reasons and many more, Jim and LuAnn – the council of the Louisa County Extension & Outreach Office is pleased to nominate you for the 2018 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.
