BOONE, Iowa—Bonnie Sorenson of Boone County was inducted into the 2021 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 22. Ninety-eight Iowa counties participated this year and selected 129 inductees for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H. Inductees or their surviving family members were presented a certificate by the Iowa 4‑H Foundation President, David Huser, State 4-H Program Leader, Debbie Nistler, as they were introduced on stage.

Bonnie Sorenson’s caring heart and passion for 4-H learning was the driving force behind her 40 year volunteer career in Boone County. She started as a 4-H club leader of the Boxholm Busy Bees in 1982. At the time, this was an all-girls club of which her daughter was an active member.  In 1991, she became a leader of the Pilot’s Peppy Pals and Eagles 4-H Club, a co-ed club that all of her children joined.  Bonnie remained a club leader there until 2005. Over her 23 years as a club leader she showed a multitude of 4-H’ers how to make the best better in their own lives.

Bonnie saw the positive impact 4-H had on youth and wanted to see its reach grow. This led her to serve a 4-year term on the Boone County 4-H Youth Committee, which oversaw many aspects of the program including member workshops, record keeping, and program budgeting. After that role, she became the Assistant Sheep Superintendent, and gladly served for the next 26 years.

Bonnie is very knowledgeable about raising sheep and enjoys sharing this expertise with 4-H’ers. She is committed to ensuring Boone County’s youth sheep program is a positive experience for all those involved. To help provide a great exhibition at the County Fair, she maintained a strong communication link with the Boone County Fair Board. They appreciated her dedication and recruited her as a member in 1999.

As a parent, Bonnie enjoyed helping her kids with their 4-H projects.  She was also quick to lend a hand to other 4-H’ers as they grew in their own project areas. Bonnie especially enjoyed encouraging members to attend and exhibit at the Iowa State Fair. Her own family camped there, so she would haul kids down with them and be their mentor while there. For this reason, she was lovingly known as the “State Fair Mom”.

Bonnie continues to be an integral part of sheep exhibition in Boone County as an assistant superintendent and Fair Board member. She is always at the shows cheering on the kids, and doing any task asked of her, even when her health is limiting. She has also taken on the role of 4-H grandma with great pride and looks forward to helping guide this next generation through their own 4-H careers.

Over the last 40 years, Bonnie’s volunteer roles have changed, new groups of kids have come and gone, and lots of different sheep have been seen, but her commitment to being present and available has stayed strong. Bonnie will be remembered and appreciated by many generations of Boone County 4-H’ers.

Counties select inductees for their exceptional work in contributing to the lives of 4-H members and the overall 4-H program.  Many inductees serve as club leaders, youth mentors, fair superintendents or fair board members, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county council members, county youth council members, fair judges, financial supporters, chaperones or ISU Extension and Outreach staff members. The inductees have demonstrated dedication, encouragement, commitment and guidance to Iowa’s 4-H’ers through the years.

“We are honored to recognize these special individuals, for their advocacy and dedication to the Iowa 4-H program,” shared Iowa 4-H Foundation Executive Director, Emily Saveraid.

“This is a great way to honor the volunteers and staff across the state of Iowa that generously give their time and talents to foster positive partnerships with our 4-H youth,” said Tillie Good, Iowa 4-H staff and volunteer development manager.

The Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame was initiated in 2002 to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of 4-H. A summary of previous honorees was on display at the 2021 Iowa State Fair in the 4-H Exhibits Building.  These summaries are also available at the Iowa 4-H Foundation office in the Extension 4-H Youth Building at Iowa State University. Information about previous inductees to the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame also is available on the Iowa 4-H Foundation website, organized by year and by county. Go to www.iowa4hfoundation.org/ and select “Recognition” then “Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.”

(contributed press release, Iowa 4-H Foundation)