Posted on August 23, 2021 at 11:50 AM by Emily Saveraid
From an early start at age six helping her older sisters show their beef projects to service on the Iowa 4-H Foundation board, 4-H has played a formative role in Jacque (Eilbert) Andrew’s life. As a Boone County 4-H’er, she was a member of the Dodge Dainty Damsels and Dodge Go-Getters 4-H clubs. During her 8 years as a 4-H’er, Jacque attended 4-H Conferences in Ames, leadership camps as an officer, and participated in home furnishing, clothing, food & nutrition, photography, communications, and beef projects.
Jacque and her family exhibited cattle nationally including AK-SAR-BEN, American Royal, International Livestock Show, and National Western. Fond memories include showing the 1967 Iowa State Fair Champion Shorthorn heifer and being a member of the Boone County livestock judging team competing at the 1970 Iowa State Fair. When she wasn’t working with her cattle, Jacque was involved in practicing bread making demonstrations and doing beef promotional activities. A graduate of Iowa State University in home economics and journalism, she was a Iowa State Campus 4-H’er.
As an adult, Jacque became a volunteer for Greene County Extension and served on the youth development and family/consumer science committees. She was a bucket/bottle calf project evaluator, communications contest judge and a leader of 4-H Legislative Day at the Capitol. She coordinated publicity to pass the Greene County Extension referendum, one of the first in the state. As a member of the Iowa 4-H Foundation board of trustees from 1998-2004, she served as marketing committee chair. Jacque promoted 4-H through her contributions to the Iowa 4-H and Greene County Extension centennial celebrations. She served as a leading volunteer in the research and presentation of “Greene County Extension: The First 100 Years” program in 2016.
The life skills Jacque learned in 4-H are the importance of setting goals and record keeping. “Goals help us focus our efforts on achievement and evaluating (and recording) our results. To me, learning to set goals is a personal expansion of our 4-H pledge,” she said.
“Because I have always been very thankful for 4-H, encouraging our daughters to be 4-H’ers and helping in their clubs was important,” said Jacque. All three were 4-H members where they participated in communication, clothing, music, dog, and beef projects.
Today, Jacque and her husband, Jim, reside in Jefferson. A recipient of the 4-H Meritorious Service Award in 2003, she continues as an active volunteer, encouraging youth to take part in this life-changing organization. Greene County 4-H is honored to have Jacque Andrew as the 2021 Greene County 4-H Hall of Fame recipient.
