4-H Kettle Moraine Club celebrates 60 years

Kettle Moraine 4-H Club of Greenbush celebrated 60 years with a birthday party. The party was held on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Greenbush town hall. This gathering brought together past and present 4-H leaders, members and their families.

Secretary, reporter, and community builder books with pictures from the past-to-the-present were on display for everyone to look through and enjoy.

It was discovered at the party that the club was started in the fall of 1947 instead of 1949. Violet (Boesel) Feldmann talked about her mother Mabel Boesel. Mabel was the original general leader of Kettle Moraine. Violet Feldmann is one of the original members.

Letters were read from former members who could not be at the party. Mary Butler Myszka, a former member and leader, wrote about how 4-H helped her public speaking become easier through having to get up in front of the club and speak. Her daughter, Amy Butler Reed, MD, wrote about her involvement with 4-H and what it taught her. Being involved with projects, having deadlines and responsibilities, all helped her to grow.

All members had the opportunity to talk about their involvement with 4-H. There are a lot of happy memories of working together on projects, speaking in front of the club, fan projects and deadlines, of course.

Doris Beck, a club leader for 20 years, spoke about how 4-H is like family. Children and adults join together, working for the good of each other and caring about them.

After 60-plus years, Kettle Moraine is still here – trying to “make the best better.” The school and work week is hectic with school activities, homework and wanting to get kids to bed so they can get up for school.

Our club decided to have our monthly meetings on Sunday afternoons. We do club tours, each family chooses a month when they host the 4-H meeting in their home. Each member shows the projects they are working on for the Fair. This is how members do their talks and demonstrations. The club does bell ringing for the Salvation Army and other community service projects. They also do recreational activities – a club trip, a picnic, bowling. It’s working together while having fun.

Karla Kiehnau, reporter