Posted on August 22, 2022 at 12:35 PM by Cade Cameron
Denise Knaack, 4-H alum, former fair queen of Dubuque County, and 4-H volunteer for over 30 years is Woodbury County’s 4-H Hall of Fame for 2022.
Denise was the 4-H leader of the Pierson Blue Ribbons. As a leader, she inspired her club members to do record keeping, communicate exhibits, and explore areas based on members’ interests. Since communications is a passion for Denise, she had members give presentations in the club and encouraged them to present at the county fair. Her three sons can vouch for that as they had presentations selected for the state fair.
She has been the superintendent of communications for several terms, and various other departments including foods, home improvement, and the overall building superintendent. As overall 4-H building superintendent, she organized and oversaw twenty-four other 4-H superintendents, twenty-two building judges, and almost 2000 static exhibits. Denise is currently the superintendent of the Life Skills Judging Contest and the secretary for the 4-H & Fair Committee.
Denise has given workshops on communications, created a kit for check out for the Life Skills Judging and helped with achievement shows. She created the rubric to help with the selection of Woodbury 4-H Hall of Fame nominees.
In 2015 Woodbury County Extension had a groundbreaking for their new extension building. Denise volunteered to create a song for the dedication that included words and music. She held practice sessions for the 4-H members who sang the song during the groundbreaking.
Denise is active in her church and plays the organ and piano almost every Sunday. She plays military taps for Memorial Day Services, volunteers at Pierson Fun Day and is always helping neighbors and friends. She was an educator at River Valley in Correctionville; she taught music and speech. She has been in numerous theater productions in the area as the director or actress. A 4-H member always, Denise continues to have exhibits at the county fair. Her food exhibits, table settings, and heritage food class projects have received grand champions.
Denise and her husband Robert, have a farm outside of Pierson, Iowa. Denise and Robert have three married sons and seven grandchildren.
Woodbury County 4-H would like to thank Denise for her dedication and years of service to the 4-H program.
