The Daily Dispatch

Three Richland County families are registered with the state as having logged 100 or more years with the 4-H program. The David and Virginia Goerger, Arlo and Marguerite Gray, and Verdell and Phyllis Jordheim families have anywhere from two to five generations involved in 4-H.

The century family program in North Dakota is based on the original program from Missouri. Families must tally up how many years members spent in 4-H and submit an application to the 4-H Council.

Virginia and her late husband David started in 4-H as children in the 1940s and 50s. In those days, clubs were separated by gender. Virginia was a part of the girls DGH Club of Lidgerwood and David was a member of the boys Richland Aggies. He later became leader of the Aggies for 15 years from the 50s to the 70s.

"4-H molded my life," Virginia said. "Back in the 50s, there really wasn't anything more impressionable than 4-H."

The Goerger family started out in 4-H with J.B. Goerger, who was a leader in the 1920s. His son, Edd Goerger was also a leader in the 1930s-40s. Virginia's parents were also involved as 4-H leaders during that era in the Lidgerwood area. Then came David and Virginia, who got their children, Ida, Rosemary and Edd involved. Ida's and Edd's children also got involved in 4-H when they were able to join. Edd's youngest, Samantha, is now the last to be an active member of the program. She is 12 years old and is a part of the Believers 4-H Club in Wyndmere.

For Virginia, it's a privilege to have watched her children and grandchildren grow through the 4-H program. Recently, she helped Samantha make curtains for her project for Achievement Days at the Bagg Bonanza Farm by Mooreton.

"I really am a believer in the 4-H program because it molds young people to practical things in life," Virginia said. "They can express themselves in judging, learn why you do what you do and listen and nurture young people in their exhibits."

Virginia remembers winning a state award for bread baking. "These are the things that left a lasting impression on me and probably molded me as to what I am today," she said.

Marguerite Gray and her late husband, Arlo, were also 4-H leaders in Richland County. Marguerite lead for 26 years, while she was a school teacher and mother of 11, and Arlo lead for 12-13 years.

"It was very satisfying," Marguerite said. She joined 4-H as a girl, belonging to the Nifty 9 4-H Club. When she entered college she also joined 4-H as a social group.

After she and Arlo were married, they had 11 children and lived on a farm by Hankinson in Richland County. When the children were old enough they joined 4-H.

"4-H was practically a way of life for me," she said. "I was a home ec teacher and started out teaching the girls sewing in the Greendale Go Getters." This group was formed for Greendale Township.

Her children - Colleen Gray, Catherine Gray, James, Michael, Charlotte Beeler, Beth Tiegs, Margaret Hennicker, Philip, Walter, Lorraine Schellito and Lawrense - did projects mostly in swine, but also took part in gardening and cooking.

Marguerite’s fondest memory of 4-H was the follies that took place each year. They would alternate locations between Hankinson and Wahpeton. She recalls the gym in Wahpeton being filled with people to watch the 4-Hers perform skits, speeches, puppet shows and other forms of entertainment.

One year, when the follies were scheduled to be in Hankinson, confirmation was scheduled for the same date. "I wrote a letter to the bishop and I said half of the kids that were to be confirmed in this area were 4-Hers and this was a conflict," Marguerite said. She never dreamed the bishop would write back, agreeing to change the date. "He changed the date because ... he was a 4-Her way back in Iowa before he became a priest," she said. "He wrote a letter back to me, which I still have."

Phyllis and Verdell Jordheim grew up in separate counties, but were still very involved in 4-H. Verdell was a Walcott Hustler and featured cattle mostly. Phyllis was in 4-H at Kindred in Cass County. Once they were married and had children, the children also joined 4-H to present cattle and sheep, along with entering other competitions like sewing and cooking.

"It was something we did as a family," Phyllis said.

All four daughters - Deb, Lynelle, Pam and Sharie - were involved in 4-H as children. Deb, Lynelle and Pam became leaders and all four daughters' children became involved in the program. The Jordheim grandchildren also present sheep and cattle, and enter sewing, photography, art and woodworking projects.

While Phyllis was a leader for 20 years, Verdell did not lead any groups. Instead, he was heavily involved in helping his girls with the projects they entered, especially grooming the sheep and cattle.

The girls won many prizes and enjoyed trips to Washington, D.C. for their work in 4-H, Phyllis said. The program so impressed Deb and Lynelle that they became involved later with the North Dakota Extension Service. Lynelle worked in the Fargo office for some time and Deb currently works for the office in Lisbon.

No matter how long families have been in 4-H, it leaves an impression no one can take away. For these three families, it has brought a lot of happiness, education and practical living skills they will never forget.

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