Posted on August 22, 2024 at 5:00 PM by Emily Saveraid
When Glen and Mary Jo moved to Muscatine County years ago, they were unaware of how their passion for 4-H would influence many youth and families. As club leaders, they formed strong youth-adult partnerships with their 4-H members. Former club members credit them for teaching them about the importance of community service, parliamentary procedure, and record keeping.
During the 1970s and 1980s, boys and girls clubs met separately. The boys' club met in the basement of Spangler Church and, as payment, mowed the lawn and provided upkeep of the grounds. Members of the girls’ club remember weekend trips to Camp Wyoming, where the 4-H members planned everything from meals to recreation.
Past club members recall fond memories of a two-year service project of planting walnut trees at 4-H Camp Langwood. They remember preparing for the fair with achievement shows and a Club Tour, which included 4-H members and their families visiting each other's homes to check out their projects, ranging from gardening, woodworking, and livestock. The tour concluded at Oak Park for a family picnic. The couple created a sense of belonging for all youth, fostering friendship and camaraderie rather than competition.
Glen and Mary Jo are committed to positive youth development and the mission of 4-H. The Mente family continues to support 4-H members across the state through generous donations to the Iowa 4-H Foundation. Muscatine County 4-H is grateful for their steadfast dedication to 4-H and the legacy that lives on in the families they touched.
