Posted on August 22, 2024 at 5:00 PM by Emily Saveraid
Marilyn Crain of Clarinda was born on March 4, 1934. She was a member of the Harlan Hustlerettes Girls 4-H Club. Her first 4-H project was an apron made of feed sacks that got a blue ribbon at the Page County Fair. Marilyn exhibited sewing, food and nutrition, home improvement, and cattle at the Page County Fair. She also showed her Angus steers at the Iowa State Fair, Kansas City Royal, Chicago, and Aksarben. Marilyn gave presentations on “How to Make Bread” and “How to Iron.”
Marilyn stated, “4-H trained me in all aspects of life. Everything from cooking, sewing, taking care of a home, and working with livestock”.
Marilyn graduated from Clarinda High School in 1952. She furthered her education at college in Lincoln, Nebraska. Marilyn married Jim Crain in 1953. After spending a short time in California on the Air Force base until the end of the Korean War, Marilyn and Jim returned to Iowa to farm near Hepburn until the hog market crashed. The couple had five children who all were in 4-H. Marilyn’s husband, Jim, started Clarinda Excavating, where Marilyn did the bookwork and worked part-time at the telephone office.
Marilyn has continued to be a long-time 4-H supporter as a Page County 4-H Alumni, 4-H building sitter, and volunteer. Marilyn still has her first 4-H project, her 4-H ribbons, record books, and photo albums of her 4-H years. Marilyn believes that 4-H is just as important for today’s youth, stating, “4-H helps youth learn life skills, exposing them to new opportunities to be self-sufficient. 4-H gives you encouragement that you can accomplish your goals.”
