Lancaster County 4-H presents a Heart of 4-H Award to a Lancaster County 4-H volunteer each month in recognition of outstanding volunteer serice. The purpose of this award is to recognize volunteers who are, indeed, the heart of 4-H.
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Gene has been a 4-H volunteer for 10 years. He is leader and county fair superintendent of the Lancaster County Shooting Sports BB Gun/Pellet Rifle/Pellet Pistol. He is co-leader of the Cool Clovers club with his wife Sharlotte. (Their children, Emily and Michael, are members of both clubs.) Gene is also current president of 4-H Council and represents 4-H on the Lancaster County Extension Board.
"I like being a 4-H volunteer because the results of 4-H Youth development work are lifelong," Gene says. "I like meeting 4-H alums and learning about their lives."
His favorite experience volunteering at the County Fair was moving the fair to the Lancaster Event Center in 2001. He says, "Each years brings more opportunity for a better fair."
He lives in Lincoln and works at the Southeast Nebraska Livestock Market near Palmyra as well as at The Fort Western Catalog in Nebraska City. Gene is a past member of the Lancaster County Ag Society (Fair Board) and past member of the St. Andrews Lutheran's church council.
Gene was a 4-H member in California and raised sheep as a project.