Posted on August 21, 2023 at 1:35 PM by Emily Saveraid
It’s all about the sheep. That is the reason this year’s Louisa County Inductee to the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame gives for all his years of volunteering. Well, the sheep and the kids too.
Mark Bohling was never a 4-H’er, and he was never a 4-H leader either. Mark’s family raised hogs, but Mark got involved in raising sheep while at Muscatine Community College and bought just a few head to try his hand at making money from sheep. It started small, but grew from there and today, 25 years later, he still raises sheep, now in partnership with his younger son Austin.
The exact story is a little hazy, but somehow Mark became involved in the 4-H and FFA Sheep Division at the Louisa County Fair…20 years ago. Mark was pretty experienced with sheep. He believed that “getting into sheep” was something that was accessible to all 4-H and FFA kids. Mark also understood the value in livestock production for kids – raising, caring for and showing animals builds character and is fun.
So, for several years before his two boys could show their own sheep, thru all their years of 4-H and for another nine years now since his youngest graduated out of 4-H, Mark has spent every day of the Louisa County Fair, along with hours of meetings and preparation before and after the fair, thinking about Sheep, raising money for a new Sheep Barn (now the Multi-Species Barn Project) and supporting and working with the youth of Louisa County that are interested in Sheep. Oh – and using his connections to find last minute Sheep Judges for the show, because for some reason over the last 20 years, judge troubles have been a problem for the Sheep and Goats more than once!
For his love of sheep and his dedication to the Louisa County 4-H program the Louisa County Extension Council and staff are proud to recognize Mark D. Bohling upon his induction into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame with the class of 2023.