Posted on August 22, 2024 at 5:00 PM by Emily Saveraid
Teresa TeKolste’s involvement in 4-H began when she was a 4-H member in Washington County. She became involved with Polk County 4-H as a parent. In 2014, she stepped up to become a leader for her daughter’s 4-H club, Levis N’ Lace, which she led for the next five years.
As a club leader, she encouraged 4-H members to get outside their comfort zones and try new things. She planned many workshops in various project areas, including home improvement, visual arts, woodworking, and food and nutrition. She also invited club members to lead workshops of their own, give presentations to the club, and share their interests.
Teresa inspired club members to get involved in the community. She facilitated many service projects for the club, including cooking, delivering, and serving a meal at a soup kitchen, painting at a local park, and volunteering annually at the Special Olympics Challenge Day in Des Moines.
In addition to her contributions at the club level, Teresa also served on the Polk County Advisory Board from 2014 to 2020, helping to create and fund opportunities for 4-H members across the county. Although she is no longer a club leader, Teresa still answers any questions 4-H youth and parents ask about anything related to 4-H, and she continues to volunteer every year at the county fair.
