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Top 2 Ohio 4-H volunteers gave combined 110 years

By DOUG GRAVES

COLUMBUS, Ohio — To say that Nancy Craig of Cortland and Roger Ruble of Millersport have a love for 4-H is an understatement.

They have been honored for their 55 years of volunteer service to Ohio 4-H, during the Bob Evans Farms 4-H Volunteer Recognition Luncheon and Years of Service Reception at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

For Craig, her family is deeply rooted in 4-H. Her grandmother was a 4-Her in Punxsutawney, Pa. Her mother, along with her seven aunts and uncles, were also heavily involved with 4-H. Craig herself served 4-H in Pennsylvania for 15 years before coming to Ohio.

There she took projects like sewing, cooking and hogs. She served as an advisor for Making the Best Better, a club that worked mainly with sewing, woodworking, cooking and ceramics.

“I think my advising affected the children involved with my clubs,” she said. “You wouldn’t believe the many people who said, ‘Nancy, I would never have been able to sew if it wasn’t for you.’”

Craig’s own children were in 4-H, so when her family moved to Ohio in 1980, they got involved in area 4-H clubs. Craig became a helper with the 4-H Challengers club, and soon became an advisor for a second club, the Crafty Critters.

She and three other advisors divided 17 projects, which included sewing, cooking, animal projects and gardening. Many of those meetings were held in the back of Craig’s garage.

“I love working with people,” said Craig, a mother of five. “I don’t believe in sitting in front of the TV; I believe kids should be doing things.”

Her father used to tell her not to tell him she was bored, or he would find work for her to do. Craig modified her father’s saying a bit: “I always say if you’re bored, take on another project, it’ll keep you busy.”

Many of Craig’s students took five to seven projects every year. One year, she recalls, she had 22 of her 32 4-Hers go to the Ohio State Fair with projects ranging from sheep and pigs to ceramics, outdoor cooking, clothing and baking. It was not unusual to find her driving her 4-Hers to the state fair in her 11-seat van.

“If the parents couldn’t take them, we took them down for the day,” she said. “I’m most proud of what my students did, how they made an effort to be able to go to Columbus, as well as seeing the improvements they made from year to year.”

There were times when parents were unable to keep up with children on their projects, and that was when Craig came in. She would visit her 4-Hers on the weekends to help them with projects like gardening. In one case, one of her 4-Hers placed second in gardening at the state fair.

“It’s terrific that you can be able to do that to help kids,” she said.

Although she is no longer a club advisor, Craig has served as a key worker for the Trumbull County Fair for the past five years. In that role, she has helped sell cookbooks, volunteered at the dairy barn and sold water at the fair to raise money for 4-Hers going to college.

“4-H has taught me to look for something better in life,” she said, “and to be positive about things you’re going to do. Staying active can be difficult for older people who have health concerns, but in the end, I’ve learned to be positive about it and go out there and do it.

“To other advisors, I tell them you’re going after a goal. Kids enjoy having you as an advisor and they look forward to another year with you. My own focus is the children, and is the reason I got involved in 4-H. Youth groups need clubs like 4-H nowadays and it keeps them out of trouble. I just thank God every day that I did this.”

Craig and Ruble are not alone in many years of volunteer service to Ohio 4-H. Charlotte Wagner of Washington County has served for 70 years, while Imelda Ream (Hancock County), Jack Stockman (Scioto) and Paul Woten (Scioto) recorded their 60th year of volunteering.

Those honored for 50 volunteer years include Ann Marrison (Ashtabula), Diana Henderson (Clinton), Carolyn Cull (Erie), James Savage (Fulton) and James Skinner (Hocking).

Recording their 45th year of service are Kathleen Smith (Ashland), Danny Baker (Champaign), Mary Skinner (Hocking), Gary Bauer (Huron), Elsie Rouse (Jackson) Doris Roby (Madison), Betty Ward (Monroe), Candy Rosenberger (Sandusky), Nancy Berg (Stark) and Sharon Emler (Wayne). And Pat Taylor (Fayette) was honored for 40 years of 4-H service.

This past year, nearly 445,000 youth participated in 4-H clubs, camps and school enrichment programs. And Ohio has more than 22,000 active 4-H volunteers.

10/3/2018