Longtime Winneshiek County Extension employee Dick Horne has been named to the Winneshiek County 4-H Hall of Fame

The newest member of the Winneshiek County 4-H Hall of Fame is longtime Extension employee Dick Horne.  Horne worked for 33 years for the Extension Office in Winneshiek County. He began his career in 1970 as the 4-H Youth Leader and later became the Extension Director from 1977 to 2000.  His devotion to the 4-H program continues today as he can be found supporting the 4-H Gala or announcing at the county fair's Pee Wee Dairy show, as he has done for the past 30 years!

Dick Horne grew up in Canton, Ohio. His family lived above a grocery store, and the landlord had a brother that was a dairy farmer. Dick worked at that dairy farm for several summers. He went on to attend Ohio State and pursue his love for Dairy Science.  Dick worked for Marshalltown and Harden County before accepting the 4-H Youth position serving Fayette, Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek counties.

Anyone attending the Winneshiek County Fair knows that the Pee Wee Dairy Show is a highlight.  Dick Horne has been the MC of this event for the past 30 years.  Children as young as three years old come to the show ring dressed as the hero of their choice with a matching calf by their side. Each child parades to the center of the show ring and then gets interviewed by Horne.  For many of these children, this positive experience is the start of their 4-H career.