Posted on August 23, 2020 at 12:00 PM by Global Reach
4-Her’s, even back in the late 1960’s and into the 1970’s, recited the same pledge that we recite today in 4-H. You know how it goes…the pledging of your head, heart, hands and health? That pledge must have rung true and made a lasting impression on the woman who is this year’s Louisa County inductee for the 4-H Hall of Fame. Even today, some 45 years after her senior year at Wapello High School and her final year repeating that pledge with the Jefferson Jennifers 4-H Club, Ms Jean Bermel of Wapello, Iowa continues to…Pledge Her Hands to Larger Service. 
After completing her years as an active 4-H member, Jean became an adult in Louisa County that has been an active member of the American Cancer Society volunteer crew working on and chairing the Relay for Life Committee and the Daffodil Days events many years in Louisa County. Jean is also an active volunteer with the Grandview 4-th of July Committee, has provided countless volunteer hours to the efforts to maintain a golf course at Heritage Oaks – often giving time to serve meals at the club and help with fundraisers, and Jean was a member of the Midwest Country Cloggers and then a member of the Stompers and Stomp-ettes performing all over Southeast Iowa in both groups. Lucky for us, Jean was also a founding member of the Louisa County 4-H Foundation and continues to be a member of the foundation board today and has long-served as the secretary of the organization.
You know it’s said that 4-Her’s are four times more likely to make contributions to their communities and two times more likely to be civically active -- it’s clear that Jean Bermel is the embodiment of those ideals. But did you know that 4-Hers are two times more likely to make healthier choices? As it so happens Jean is a regular on the links of local golf courses and a regular winner of matches and tournaments and she also is a regular distance runner and has participated in many runs all over Eastern Iowa.
The young lady from the Jefferson Jennifers has indeed been dedicated to … 4-H clubs, her community, her county and her world…and for that service, Jean Bermel, the Louisa County Extension Council is proud to nominate you for the 2020 4-H Hall of Fame.
