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Agassiz Couple celebrates 100 years of 4-H Service

Ken and Deb Schwaerzle have reached a milestone of service. They have spent a combined total of 100 years of service to the 4-H Club.

Ken and Deb Schwaerzle have reached a milestone of service. They have spent a combined total of 100 years of service to the 4-H Club.

Thousands upon thousands of hours of coaching, teaching, judging, leading, helping and reaching to hundreds of 4-H club members over the years for this Agassiz couple have added up to a lifetime of service between them.

They both started out as kids in 4-H and just never left. It has become a family tradition, with their children going through the program and now two of their grandkids. Why commit so much time to 4-H?

“Kids learn how to work with other kids, they learn how to run a meeting properly. They learn speaking, demonstrations, judging,” explains Ken of 4-H’s value.

4-H Canada, whose motto is ‘Learn To Do By Doing’ is designed to empower young Canadians to become skilled, engaged, and responsible leaders who are passionate about making meaningful contributions to the world around them, according to the 4-H Canada website. 4-H Canada has more than 25,000 members and 7,700 volunteers across the country. The club is based on the principles of 4 H’s: the head for managing and thinking, the heart for relating and caring, the hands for giving and working and health, for being and living.

The Agassiz Rainbow 4-H club, which currently has 14 members, has a variety of focuses for its members, including dairy, swine, sheep and horses. They used to have a small engines club and would like to get that project started again.

Morgan Meir has been in 4H for nine years now, first with the Agassiz Rainbow Club now with the Rushin’ Rivers (Rosedale) club. He has enjoyed his time and has gained knowledge in a variety of project areas, especially public speaking.

“It instills teamwork, confidence, leadership and responsibility,” says Meir of 4-H.

Meir speaks highly of 4-H, and of the Schwaerzles.

“They are integral leaders in our district,” says Meir. “They’ve been a great help, motivation and inspiration for me to stay in 4-H.”

To celebrate the Schwaerzle’s 100 years of service, there will be a barbecue open to all next Sunday, June 28, from 1-5 p.m. at the Agassiz Fairgrounds. There will be special speakers and a baseball game or two. Register asap by emailing Tanya Schwaerzle at tanyas.21@hotmail.com