Gale & Ann Fisher of Montgomery County were inducted into the 2023 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 20. Ninety-one Iowa counties participated this year and selected 127 inductees for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H. Inductees or their surviving family members were presented a certificate by the Iowa 4H Foundation President, David Bolte, and Interim State 4-H Program Leader, Mitchell Hoyer, as they were introduced on stage.

Gale and the late Ann Fisher grew up participating in 4-H. Gale was a member of the East Sunrisers 4-H Club and Ann was a member of the Peppy Farmerettes 4-H Club. They lived the values they learned from 4-H and instilled those values in their children, Jerry, Kim, Vonda, & Darrin.

Ann was a leader of the Busy Boosters 4-H Club for many years. She conducted sewing and baking workshops. She wanted every girl to go home with a finished project. Kim and Vonda recall having to rip out several seams because they just weren’t good enough, but she never stepped in and finished for them. Ann was an avid baker and loved sharing her knowledge. She conducted workshops all over the county. Since her passing in 2016, her family gets together each November to bake her recipes and sell the goods at the Villisca Craft Show and then award the best pie baker of the Montgomery County Fair with a pie server. Her legacy continues.

Gale started showing livestock in 1951. He remembers taking livestock to the baseball field to show. Gale has always supported the kids with their 4-H projects. He not only helped his kids but also his nephews, neighbors, grandkids, great-grandkids, and friends. He wants to see any youth that has the desire, to have a livestock project. He still raises lambs and participates in the Adams County Rural Development program that matches lambs with kids. Currently, the 4th generation of the Fisher family is showing and participating in 4-H.

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 2022 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 under the heading “What We Do” select “Recognizing Service” then “Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.”