(Cass Co) Cass County Extension is honoring their volunteers.
Kate Olson, Cass County Extension Director, said National Volunteer Week is celebrated in late April and Cass County Extension wants to say Thank You to all who contribute to and support Cass County Extension programs.
Audio PlayerIf you are interested about learning more about Cass County Extension programs or how you can get involved with one or more of these opportunities, contact the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, email xcass@iastate.edu or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass for program details and upcoming events.
Elected extension council members contribute immeasurably to the effectiveness of Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach by helping to develop and implement local programs and secure needed resources. Council member input ensures that a planned sequence of educational experiences addresses county needs. Every county in Iowa has an elected Extension Council- made up of 9 local residents who help determine budget and program priorities and manage local tax dollars for maximum benefit to their local communities.
Cass County Extension Council members include Chad Becker, JJ Bierbaum, Marcy Dorsey, Tony Orstad, Jeb Peck, Brad Pellett, Sue Riggs, Todd Weppler and Dave York.
Iowa 4-H Youth Development is the premier youth development program of ISU Extension and Outreach. Providing research-based education to K-12 youth, Iowa 4-H focuses on Healthy Living, STEM, Leadership and Civic Engagement, and Communication and the Arts. Iowa 4-H builds upon more than a century of experience in positive youth development partnering with youth to help them find their passion.
Clover Kid Leaders include Kristen Alexander, Sarah Becker, Jessica Delage, Terri Hansen, Kaitlynn Walter, Braedi Wickard and Katie York.
4H Club Leaders include Jess Barber, Diane Brahms, Carolyn Bruck, Carrie Harrison, Eva Jensen, Melissa Johnson, Jerry McCrory, Holly Oathoudt, Lea Anne Peterson, Darrin Petty, Troy Retallic, Toni Rieck, Jill Rudy, Crystal Schroder, Ashley Skow, Aubrey Stuart, Jenae Waters, Brittney Weirich, Amanda Will, Molly Wise, Dave York, Kristy York, and Hillary Zellmer.
Club Volunteers include TJ Barber, Rio Johnson, Chuck Rudy, Logan Skow, and Kara Victor.
The Iowa 4-H Foundation offers County 4-H Programs the opportunity to hold an endowment fund as a way for donors to give locally and to invest in the long-term success of local 4-H Programs. County endowments can identify and prioritize investment in 4-H Programs that will have the greatest impact locally while growing for the future. The Cass County 4-H Endowment Committee hosts an annual Pancake Supper fundraising event in the spring and an annual online giving campaign in the fall. They use funds to support youth participating in 4-H opportunities and events that take them beyond Cass County, scholarships to graduates, and covering the $45 program development fee for 4-H members annual enrollment to be in 4-H.
Cass County 4-H Endowment Committee members include Stacie Euken, Jon Johnson, Lisa Woodward, Jenea Waters and Dave York.
The 4-H Youth Action Committee is an active volunteer group of youth and adults that works in cooperation with Youth Program Specialists and County Extension Staff to provide leadership to the county 4-H program. The Youth Action Committee works to meet the developmental and educational needs of youth and is responsible for programming integrity. They provide county-wide workshops and opportunities including Fall Fest, Officer Training, various project workshops, and help develop and enforce the Cass County 4-H Participation Policy Guidelines for all members.
4-H Youth Action Committee members include Jeff Anderson, Shane DeBord, Melissa Johnson, Carrie Ohms, Tony Orstad, Ashley Skow, and Kristy York, along with high school 4-H Youth members.
Cass County also has a large group of active Master Gardeners that meet monthly to plan projects such as community garden spaces, food donation projects, educational activities, local project grants and community beautification efforts. The goal of the Master Gardener program is to support horticulture education and community service. Cass County Master Gardeners provide many hours of volunteer service and gardening education within their local communities. To raise funds for these activities, the group annually holds a spring and fall plant sale fundraiser.
Master Gardeners include Lori Anderson, Marla Anstey, Michelle Behrends, Catherine Booth, LaVon Eblem, Theresa Hansen, Carolyn Hartman, Jane Hayes-Johnk, Kolton Hewlett, Ciara Hoegh, Connie Jones, Judy Kennedy, Dottie Krogh, Alan Ladd, Sue Liston, Donna Reimers, Janice Steffen, Kay Stork, Mary Strong, Todd Turner, Karen Mailander, Vicki Nordskog, Kristy Pellett, and Brad Rassmussen.
Certified community volunteers prepare taxes with computer software and help with special tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or Disabled. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free and accurate income tax assistance to qualifying low-to-moderate income individuals and working families, older adults, limited English speakers, and persons with a disability each spring.
Vita Tax Prep Volunteers include Lori Rassmussen, and Connie Petersen.
The Cass County Grounds Committee oversees the fairgrounds and the Cass County Community Building. They manage the grounds mowing and maintenance all year long while also setting up, cleaning, and managing rentals hosted in the Cass County Community Center throughout the year.
Cass County Grounds Committee members include Scot Bailey, Curt Behrends, Clint Freund, Paul Gade, Mike Henderson, Dennis Jipsen, Rick Larsen, Mike McDermott, Steve Myers, Dan Olsen, Stephen Ritter, Derek Sanny, Glen Sonntag, Nathan Steffen, Dave Williamson, Alan Zellmer and Greg Zellmer.
The Cass County Fairboard is a volunteer group that plans and hosts the annual Cass County Fair. Throughout the year they work to coordinate entertainment, plan food stand menus, review rules, coordinate with volunteer Fair Superintendents, and ensure youth and the local community have a fun and safe fair experience. The Fairboard works cooperatively with the Cass County Grounds Committee as they take over the fairgrounds for only one week of the year.
Fairboard members include Trevor Becker, Cutis Bierbaum, Natalie Bierbaum, Shane DeBord, Liz Denney, Mike Dreager, Eric Hansen, Paul Hocamp, Jon Johnson, Mike Jacobsen, Stephen Ritter, Cory Scholl, Grant Stuart, Wayne Victor and Drew Williams.
Fair Superintendents help the Cass County Fairboard with management and delegation of fair departments. Superintendents work cooperatively with FFA Advisors and the Cass County 4-H program to ensure youth have opportunities to learn and grow within their department. Superintendents are responsible for overseeing individual department rules, contest materials, committee helpers and planning/assisting with department needs throughout the year and all during fair week.
Fair Superintendents include Jeff Anderson, Whitney Baxter, Jackie Brokaw, Jordan Dailey, Liz Denney, Marcy Dorsey, Ashley Freund, Marjorie Frisbie, Melissa Johnson, Layne Kinney, Melissa Lingk, Tracy Marshall, Ann McCurdy, Dexter McDermott, Eric Miller, Kat Niemann, Holly Oathoudt, Darrin Petty, Justin Retallic, Troy Retallic, Hannah Richter, Haley Schmidt, Chris Scholl, Kara Victor, Duane Weirich, Julie Williamson, Molly Wise and Katie York.
Photo: 4-H and Clover Kid Leaders receive recognition for years of service to the Cass County 4-H Program at the 2024 County 4-H Awards Convention. Toni Rieck, Terri Hansen, Carrie Ohms, Diane Brahms.
