COUNTY WIDE TH U RS DA Y , A P R I L 14 , 20 16
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80 years of inspiring young lives
La Menu Modelle 4-H Club to mark milestone with reunion Friday
LEFT: Today, La Menu Modelle is one of more than a dozen community 4-H clubs in Kendall County. 4-H is a positive youth development program that provides young people the opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, develop independence, practice generosity, and experience mastery.
By ROSIE RALSTON
news@kendallcountynow.com
F
or eight decades, La Menu Modelle 4-H Club has inspired hundreds of local youth to be their best. Through the power of volunteerism, these 4-H members have learned and shared important life skills of citizenship, communication and leadership. “The 4-H program has been around for more than 100 years in Illinois and nearly 90 years in Kendall County,” said Deanna Roby, 4-H youth development educator with University of Illinois Extension. “Founded in the mid-1930s, La Menu Modelle 4-H Club is one of the longest running clubs in our county. We recognize this achievement and the passion and commitment of all past volunteers and members to reach this major milestone.” To celebrate the group’s 80th anniversary, the club will host a reunion from 7 to 9 p.m. this Friday, April 15, at Allied Bank, 3102 Orchard Road in Oswego. “We hope to bring together La Menu Modelle’s current and past members, families and leaders,” said Laura Burk, current club leader. “We invite everyone to bring photos, projects or mementos to share.” Today, La Menu Modelle is one of more than a dozen community 4-H clubs in Kendall County. The original leaders, Edna Wolf and Mrs. Wilbur Woolley, paved the way for longtime leaders Ann Smith and Thelma Paydon, who took the helm in 1942 and together led the club into the 1970s. Their protégé Nancy Rink gave nearly 40 years to the 4-H club, many as the main leader, and most recently, her niece Laura Burk stepped up to head the club since 2007. Many other project leaders and volunteers also gave of their time and talents over the years. “4-H leaders hold a special place in the hearts and memories of 4-H members,” said Burk, who was a longtime member of La Menu Modelle herself.
BELOW: Oswego resident Nann Smith Armstrong, who was a 10-year member of La Menu Modelle 4-H Club, models her sewing project in 1953. Armstrong says her career was inspired by her time in 4-H, and she now volunteers for 4-H at the county level and as a Master Gardener.
“They took the time to help us grow into good people and the lessons carry over to today. I think that is such a valuable part of 4-H. That’s why I am a leader now; I want to make a difference.” Smith’s daughter, Nann Smith Armstrong, fondly recalls La Menu Modelle’s active participation at the county and state events, including sports competitions, camps, foods demonstrations, flower arranging and Share the Fun, a variety show-style event for 4-H Clubs. “I was totally immersed in 4-H from the time I was born,” said Armstrong, who was a 10-year member of La Menu Modelle and now volunteers for 4-H at the county level. “Both my parents had been in 4-H and became 4-H leaders when they married and started to farm in this area. 4-H kids learn from each other at their club meetings, from their project leaders, from workshops, but most of all from working on each project and seeing it through to completion. There was a motto in La Menu Modelle, and in 4-H in general, ‘To make the best better.’ The idea is to always do your
best, and not be satisfied with just getting it done or getting by.” Armstrong also was a member of Oswego Future Stockmen 4-H Club, of which her father J. George Smith was a leader. “I belonged to two 4-H clubs so I could take home economics projects and raise animals,” Armstrong explained. “Now you can take all the projects you want in the club you join or you even can join a special interest club. I am really impressed with the emphasis on and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The underlying principle of learning by doing remains the same.” Historically, La Menu Modelle was a home economics club, with an emphasis on cooking, sewing and other life skills. Today’s members embrace both those practical skills and a wide array of other interests, such as filmmaking, digital photography, visual arts,
See 80 YEARS, page 6
Photos provided