50-year 4-H leader will be recognized at banquet

BENTON -- A 50-year Scott County 4-H volunteer and club leader will be recognized by the organization during its annual banquet Sunday in Benton.

Pat Moore, club leader of the New Hamburg Eager Beavers 4-H Club, will be acknowledged during the 6:30 p.m. event Sunday at the Kelly Elementary School gym in Benton.

Moore first became involved in the organization 50 years ago after being recruited by some local women to lead a foods class, which led to Moore teaching other classes and eventually becoming club leader.

Donna Taake, who served as the 4-H specialist in Scott County for 18 years before retiring about two years ago, worked with Moore on countless occasions.

"In my career, we had three volunteers in a three-county radius -- Cape, Scott and Perry -- who've volunteered 50 years," Taake said. "That tells you how unusual that (Moore's feat) is."

As a 4-H youth specialist, Taake said she was very fortunate to have a volunteer like Moore.

"As a staff person, she was always my go-to person," Taake said of Moore. "If I needed help with something or volunteers, she would say: 'Yes! I'll be glad to help with you that.' That's very unusual."

Taake said in her opinion, Moore has been the driving force that's kept 4-H going in Scott County all these years.

"To have a volunteer who's that active and that committed to the youth in that county, you don't find that everywhere -- someone who will devote 50 years to one cause and the youth," Taake said. "She's a gift -- a rare gift -- and I hold her in very high esteem."

For the complete story, see the weekend edition of the Standard Democrat.