Posted on August 22, 2022 at 12:06 PM by Cade Cameron
Terry Rolf has lived in Page County, in the Shenandoah area, all his life and attended Shenandoah schools from kindergarten through high school. He graduated from Iowa Western Community College in Clarinda, Iowa with an Associate of Science degree in 1976. Terry began farming with his dad that same year. He married Patti Sue Hayhurst in 1982 and they moved to Northboro in 1984. Terry and Patti have three children: Allison Rolf, Jennifer Baker, and Andrew Rolf. Terry was a self-employed farmer who, with his dad and son, raised corn, soybeans, oats, clover, hay, and seed corn as well as livestock consisting of cattle and hogs. He also worked at ConAgra and as a rural carrier for the United States Postal Service.
Terry was a loyal nine-year member of the Shenandoah Teamsters 4-H Club, for which he held offices of president, vice president, secretary and treasurer at various times. In those days the club was for boys, with his father Donald Rolf serving as club leader. The Tri M’s was the girl’s club and was led by his mother, Faye Rolf.
Terry and Patti became leaders of the combined Shenandoah Teamsters & Tri M’s and they served in this capacity for many years. Terry enjoyed helping the kids work on their Share the Fun projects by helping to write/direct the club skit and making props. Daughter Allison Rolf shared this memory, “Dad was the epitome of the supportive 4-H dad [and club leader]. From attending every meeting, every activity, every workshop he could with us. Regardless of whatever projects I decided to do that year, he was encouraging and supportive. During fair week, he was never very far from our club’s funnel cake stand. The nights spent working by his side, being completely miserable in the heat and humidity are memories that stand out.”
Terry was a formative leader, helping with both livestock and static projects, and always addressed members with encouragement prior to judging. In 2001, Terry was inducted into the Page County Alumni Association. He served on the Page County Fair Board, and he served on the Page County Extension Council from 2013 until his death in 2018. Terry was a familiar fixture at the Page County Fair and has been greatly missed in the Page County community.
Terry’s daughter Jennifer Baker put it best, “Terry truly embodied the 4-H spirit – he used is HEAD to help create and inspire new ideas, his HANDS to build and provide, his HEALTH to give back and be present, and his HEART to love and show passion for everything he did.”
