Weld County 4-H Leaders

Each year the Weld County 4-H Foundation recognizes leaders that have given so much of their time to the youth. Below are the leaders that were recognized at the 2018 Weld County 4-H Foundation Annual Banquet.

Debbie is a 15-year leader with Magic Spurs 4-H. She began volunteering by assisting as a project leader for Family & Consumer Science projects, later adding livestock projects. She has also been the Washington Focus group leader in her area. Debbie’s inspiration to serve as a leader is rooted in her memories of how much she and her children got out of 4-H and she wants others to have that same opportunity. She says that 4-H activities and events are the source of some of their best family memories. Debbie enjoys traveling and time with her
family; reading, knitting, and baking. She is a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary in Keenesburg, and was on the board of the Cardinal Community Charter School. Debbie and her husband, Kerry, farm near Roggen. She does book work at the farm and at the American Legion, and she is the Event Coordinator at the SE Weld Fairgrounds.

Stuart was a 10-year 4-H member and began volunteering while in college, serving as a coach for the Weld 4-H Horse Bowl and Hippology teams. Later, when his kids started 4-H, he signed on as a shooting sports project leader with Galeton 4-H, and has more recently become a co-organizational leader of the club. He likes watching youth develop, and notes that despite some of the competitive distractions that can sometimes surface he stays enthused by seeing the new kids who join 4-H and helping guide them into projects. Stuart is a past member, and President, of the Weld County Fair Board, and the Weld County Extension Advisory Council. He was an elder at his church, and is a member of the Eaton Sertoma Club. Stuart and his wife, Stephanie, live near Galeton.   He has been in the animal feed industry for 25 years and enjoys traveling, hunting & fishing, motorcycles, and mission trips.

Ty is a 15-year leader with the Wagoneers 4-H Club. He has served as a project leader for swine, shotgun, and leathercraft projects; and assists his wife, Tara, with organizational leader duties. Ty believes it is important for kids to have an outlet that allows them to experience agriculture, and he sees 4-H as one way to help them stay connected to the ag industry. He is a former youth football and basketball coach, and served on the board for the Cardinal Community Academy charter school. He is on the board for the SE Weld County Fair, and is a member of the Prospect Valley & Horse Creek gun club. Ty enjoys family trips, especially to Mexico, and watching the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Broncos. He says that 4-H has made their family who they are and is part of their identity. He has been farming in the Hudson/Fort Lupton area for the past 30 years.

Ray is a shooting sports project leader with the Tailtwisters 4-H Club, focusing on air rifle, 22, and air pistol disciplines. He remembers growing up in 4-H himself, and he wanted to have his kids in the program too. As a 15-year leader, Ray still enjoys watching the first-year shooting sports member come to the line with their rifle for the first time and seeing the pride and satisfaction that it gives them. His enjoyment continues as he watches them
progress and mature through the years. Ray is active in his church, and takes pleasure in mountain biking, snow skiing, hunting, and spending time with family. He and his wife, Ursula, live near Fort Lupton where he has maintained a large animal veterinary practice for 31 years.

Amy remembers helping as a project leader in her father’s club in Boulder County while she was in college. Now, a 20-year organizational leader of Magic Spurs 4-H, Amy remembers how much she learned as a 4-H member and likes to be able to pass that knowledge on to other kids. In addition to her organizational leader duties, Amy has served as a Cloverbud leader and project leader for Family & Consumer Science projects. She is appreciative of the lifelong connections she has made in 4-H, both as a member and leader. Outside of 4-H, Amy is a member of the Kiowa Creek Community Church and the Weld County Extension Advisory Council, plus she assists at the SE Weld County Fair. In her spare time, she enjoys crocheting, scrapbooking, cooking, and going to cattle shows with her family. Amy and her husband, Jeff, live near Roggen where they farm and ranch.

Dave became a 4-H leader when his children enrolled as members, signing up to lead in the projects that they were taking. This included Beef, Goats, Swine, Dairy, and Shooting Sports. He also spent time helping fundraise for the Washington Focus trips. Now a 20-year leader with the Keene 4-H Boosters, Dave reflects on all the good his kids got out of 4-H and he stays involved as a way to give back to the program. He appreciates the discipline and good behavior shown by 4-H kids in general. Dave is involved with the Weld Central FFA and is a sponsor of the Catch-it Goat program that is starting at the SE Weld County Fair this year. He enjoys working around the house, taking part in shooting sports, and breeding & raising goats in partnership with his daughter Sarah. Dave has been employed in machine maintenance for 38 years. He and his wife, Claudia, live east of Fort Lupton.

If records for tenure as a 4-H volunteer leader were kept, Bill Erickson would certainly be among the top in the nation. Bill has served as a Weld County 4-H volunteer for 65 years with the Galeton 4-H club. He has also been extensively involved in the Weld 4-H Leaders Council, Colorado State Leaders Council where he served as President, and the Western Regional 4-H Council. He remembers being a Junior Leader while he was a 4-H member, and then progressing directly into an adult volunteer leader. He says that it is because of the people he has worked with, both youth and adults, that he has stayed motivated and active as a leader over the years. His advice to other volunteers is that you can’t do it all by yourself; you need to get people working with you whatever you are doing. Bill and his family have hosted numerous exchange students over the years. He has seven grand-children and two great grand-children – however he considers all the kids in the county to be his grand kids. Bill has been involved as a dairyman and farmer for all his life. His roots in Weld County go back to the 1860’s and 70’s when Greeley was still the Union Colony. His great grandfather fought in the Civil War. To say that he has been dedicated and committed to Weld County and the 4-H program would be an understatement. This past Monday, considering his 65 years as a 4-H volunteer, the Weld County Commissioners issued a proclamation declaring Monday, April 23rd, as Bill Erickson Day. The proclamation reads as follows:

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners wishes to formally recognize the service of Bill Erickson, Galeton, for his outstanding dedication to the Weld County 4-H program; and

WHEREAS, Bill Erickson has devoted sixty-five (65) years of volunteer service to Weld County 4-H and the Galeton 4-H Club; and

WHEREAS, he has impacted thousands of youth in Weld County by encouraging and teaching them life skills through positive youth development; and

WHEREAS, his diligent and dedicated service as a volunteer leader is a great example of his legacy that will provide inspiration to all who aspire to contribute to the well-being of all Weld County youth.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, that the Board appreciates the passion, loyalty, vision, honesty, dedication and service Bill Erickson has demonstrated to Weld County, and do hereby declare that Monday, April 23, 2018, be known as William “Bill” Erickson Day.