15-Year
Ann Duvall served as a county key leader for cake decorating. She has since moved to Seattle, Washington.
Bill Coufal remembers growing up in the 4-H program. Together with his wife, Margie, they now serve as the organizational leaders of the Milliken Pacesetters 4-H Club. Bill, who is an electrical field engineer for the city of Loveland, enjoys seeing kids develop into dependable adults, and likes being able to help kids with their projects. One of the highlights of his 15 years as a leader was when he and Margie were chaperones for the 1999 Washington Focus trip.
Margie Coufal is the sales manager for Johnstown Clothing. She remembers getting started when a leader who was retiring asked for their help. At the time, they had three kids involved in 4-H. Margie says that through 4-H she is able to see kids learn responsibility and enjoys watching them start a project and see it all the way through to completion. Margie and Bill live near Milliken, and have four children, three who have completed 4-H and one who is currently enrolled.
Ron Helus got his start as a 4-H leader when he and his wife Karen were asked to be project leaders for sheep with the Box Elder Ag 4-H club. Since then, they have added goats, chickens and rabbits to their project leader list. In addition, Ronnie coaches softball and basketball for the club. Ronnie believes that 4-H brings out honesty and the good side of competition with young kids. He likes being able to share his knowledge about animals with the kids. He is employed by Cox Oil of Greeley.
Karen Helus was herself an 8-year member of 4-H. She presently is employed by Platte Valley Schools in Kersey. Kids are her number one reason for being a leader. She enjoys the relationships that are built through 4-H and takes pleasure in the thought that her involvement as a leader helps lead kids in the right direction to become good citizens. Karen and Ronnie live southeast of Kersey and have also served as leaders of the AWANA program for seven years. They have two children, Aaron and Jocelyn.
Melodie Kammerzell was a 10-year 4-H member and continued on with collegiate 4-H for two more years. She is the Horse and Home Ec project leader for Ashton Ag 4-H, and helped get Cloverbuds started in her club, working with them for seven years. She also helps with the Mardi Gras program. Melodie says she likes the opportunities 4-H offers kids, and that 4-H seems to keep families together. Melodie is a computer consultant with Managed Business Solutions. She and her husband Keith and children Brandon and Bryce, live northeast of Galeton, where they raise registered Maine Anjou cattle.
Al Meier has spent his 15 years in the Weld and Larimer County programs. He helped start the shooting sports project which now has over 3500 members involved. He notes that over 2000 adults have been trained as shooting sports leaders. Al is a project leader in model rocketry and a resource leader in wildlife, fisheries, and electricity projects. In addition to his years as a leader, Al was a county 4-H agent for 15 years in New York and was with state 4-H for five years in Arizona and for 15 years here in Colorado. Now retired, Al has four sons, and lives with his wife Sandi in Windsor.
Teri Peterson is a leader with the Tailtwisters club. She and her husband live east of Platteville and have two children, Tessa and Trevor. Teri got involved as a leader in 4-H when Tessa first became a member. She serves as the project leader for rabbits. Teri says that the rabbit project is one that not a lot of people know about, so she likes to work with kids and help them learn how to take care of, and show, rabbits. Teri has worked for the USDA as a poultry grader for three years, and still enjoys breeding and showing meat and fancy rabbits.
Mike Reed enjoys working with people and feels that 4-H is more family oriented than some other organizations. Mike is a project leader for electricity and model rocketry in the New Horizons club and has helped with their fund-raising activities. He has been involved with the county Washington Focus program for 11 years and is currently serving the Vice Chair. He and his wife have three children who are currently members of 4-H. Mike lives in Greeley and has worked 19 years for the City of Greeley’s Water & Sewer department.
Lori Rhoadarmer lives southwest of Greeley, and operates Shalom Sitting Service, a child care business. She has been a leader with the Helping Hands 4-H club where she helps organize some of their special events. She was inspired to become a leader because of her experience as a 4-H member with the Evans Ag. Club. Lori says it is very satisfying watching the older kids complete 4-H and then return to become leaders themselves.
Jack Robb got started as a leader with the Helping Hands 4-H club when he married Lucille who was already a club leader. He currently helps with organizational duties, and with baking and cooking projects. Jack loves to be where the kids are, they are the ones who keep him inspired. One highlight from his 15 years of leadership was when the original group of girls from when they started their club all received their 10-year pins together. Jack now works for K-Mart after many years with the Greeley Tribune.
Lenny Simpson was looking for a way to stay involved in 4-H after his stint as a 4-H member. He became a leader with the Wyatt Ag club as a coach and a livestock project leader. Lenny believes that the competition 4-H offers in livestock mirrors real life and teaches kids responsibility and a work ethic that they will need later on in life. Lenny has served on the Athletic Committee for six years and was swine superintendent at the County Fair for 15 years. He farms 450 acres northeast of Ault, and raises show lambs and pigs.
Lisa Simpson was a 10-year member of 4-H and her mother was a leader, so it was natural for her to become involved as a leader too. She coaches volleyball and softball for the Wyatt Girls club, and is co-chair of the Highland area Washington Focus group. Lisa says that 4-H builds lifelong relationships and develops a sense of responsibility and character in those who participate. She enjoys seeing her kids do some of the same things she used to do when she was a member. Lisa and Lenny have two children, Nikki & Logan, who are both in 4-H. She is employed by State Farm Insurance in Evans.
Joe Amen grew up in 4-H and was a 10-Year member with the Prospect Valley club. Joe and his wife, Sandy, have served as leaders for 20 years. He says that most of his time as a leader was spent being Sandy’s supporting assistant. Joe, who also serves on the local school board, farms southeast of Hudson.
Sandy Amen spent most of her time as the organizational leader for the Hudson Shamrocks 4-H club. She also worked as a project leader for Home Ec type projects, and assisted with livestock record book judging. Sandy has watched a lot of kids grow up through 4-H, and states that she’s made a lot of lasting friendships while being a leader. She and Joe have two children, Kaitlin and Jarod.
Vicki Christian and her husband, Stephen, live in Windsor and have two children and two grandchildren. She operates her own business called “Drapes by Vicki Christian.” She became a leader in 4-H when her daughter first became a member. Her main involvement has been as a county resource person for the Clothing project. Vicki was a sponsor on the 1985 Washington Focus trip and helps at the County Fair with interview judging. Participating in 4-H activities with her daughter has been a fun experience for her.
Joyce Johnson began as a leader with the Severance Nimble Fingers, now known as the Severance 4-Corners 4-H club. She served as the club’s organizational leader for 15 years, and as the sewing project leader for all 20 years. She and her husband Tim operate a dairy farm north of Severance, and have two children, Shelly & Kevin, who were both 10-year 4-H members. Joyce’s perspective is that projects don’t have to be perfect, as long as the member did it and is proud of it. She says it’s okay for kids to make mistakes because there is always something to learn from it.
Anpeytu Raben served as a horse project leader for five years in Idaho before moving to Colorado where she has served as assistant organizational leader and horse project leader for the Phoenix 4-H club. Her main interest as a leader is to help the youth develop their personal potential. She earned a Riding master's degree from Merideth Manor International Equestrian Center in West Virginia. Anpeytu is the Executive Director of Weld County Sexual Assault Survivors, Inc. In Evans. She is married to Galen and has two sons, Adam and Ian.
25-Year
Ted Magnuson is a fourth-generation farmer southwest of Ault. He was asked by a friend to help lead the Wyatt Ag 4-H club and has served as its organizational leader for 25 years. Ted is proud of all the kids that have participated in 4-H, and notes that a blue ribbon isn’t the only measure of success. Ted has served as a board member of Agland for 19 years and has been active in the Weld County Livestock Association, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. He has many memories of smiling faces of kids when they first join, learn the pledge, and begin to feel a part of everything. Ted and his wife Suzie have two sons, Tim and Jim, who are both current 4-H members.
Judy Stevens of Greeley says that “4-H keeps good kids good.” She especially enjoys watching kids during interview judging at the fair. She got her start as a leader when her kids first got involved, and is proud to have five children that all were 10-year members. Among her different roles in 4-H, Judy has served as club organizational leader, project leader for general and natural resources, crocheting, and rabbits. Judy received a degree from Aims Community College as an auto technician, which is her current profession.
30-Year
Barbara Swetzig believes 4-H is very worthwhile for the time spent. She has been a leader for 30 years, first as an organizational leader for the Hazelton Home Ec club, and now as a county resource leader in sewing and clothing. She helps with the Fashion Revue and is the treasure of the Leaders Food Booth. She and her husband, Bob, have three daughters, all of whom were 10-year 4-H members and outstanding junior leaders. Barbara has worked for 18 years in the College of Education at UNC. When reflecting on her time as a leader, Barbara quotes Bob Hope by saying “Thanks for the memories.”