LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Gift of grain inspires more

BY MARIA CHILDS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

When asked what 4-H youth gain through their experience in the Kansas 4-H program, Ione Toll’s answer said it all. “...Your head to clearer thinking, your heart to greater loyalty, your hands to larger service and your health to greater living…,” she recited in her Lindsborg, Kansas home recently.

Throughout her 99 years of life, Toll has continued to build on the 4-H values she learned as a youth. Growing up, she was a member of the Hopewell 4-H Club in Rice County for six years. The projects she enrolled in were clothing, foods, home improvement and at the time, baby beef.

“I served as vice president and president of our club,” she said. “We entered the model meeting contests, and I was a member of clothing judging teams and also gave demonstrations.”

She recalled giving a demonstration at the Kansas State Fair about pressing wool trousers after winning a top blue ribbon at the county fair. As part of her 4-H experiences, Toll also attended 4-H Round-Up, now known as Discovery Days, at Kansas State University. She learned about sewing and what it takes to make quality garments.

“One dress I made had two rows of piping around the waist and neckline that was difficult to sew,” she said. “My aunt and I got ‘into’ a bit of a dispute over that dress, but it was a neat dress.”

While she learned a lot of new life skills in the foods, sewing and home improvement projects, her favorite project was baby beef. Through the baby beef project, Toll eventually met the love of her life, her late husband Marlin.

“The fall of my senior year in high school I exhibited at both the State

Throughout her 99 years of life, Ione Toll has continued to build on the 4-H values she learned as a youth. Toll’s personal 4-H experiences led her to philanthropically supports Kansas 4-H with a gift of grain. Her gift is directed toward Rock Springs Ranch, the state 4-H Center.

Fair and Wichita Fat Stock Show,” she said. “I won a blue ribbon at the State Fair and placed well at Wichita with my shorthorn steer. I met Marlin at Hutchinson at the State Fair and thought he was really ‘neat.’ He was at the Wichita Fat Stock Show also, and we visited a lot there. Marlin was the real highlight of my 4-H days!”

Toll’s personal 4-H experiences led her to philanthropically support the experiences of Kansas youth today. She chose to direct her gift of grain toward Rock Springs Ranch, the state 4-H center. Her recent gift will fund cabin renovations to the Earl W. Parsons Hilltop Housing Area at Rock Springs Ranch.

“Making a gift of grain was a great way for me to support Kansas 4-H,” she said. “The process was simple, and I would encourage others to think about using that option.”

Toll said it was important to her to support the immersive experiences of 4-H youth at camp this summer and beyond.