Elmhurst Volunteer Honored By Illinois 4-H

ELMHURST, IL — An Elmhurst volunteer was recently recognized for his service to the Illinois 4-H Foundation. According to a release, the foundation annually honors 4-H volunteers for exemplary service, and this year, Elmhurst resident Steven Ford was inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame.

According to the Foundation, Ford has been an active volunteer for DuPage County 4-H and University of Illinois Extension for nearly a decade.

“We are grateful that Steven is always willing to lend his time and expertise in the success of efforts, such as International Night, the county fair, the 4-H Shooting Sports program, and spring break workshops,” Christine Birns, 4-H Program Coordinator, DuPage County, said in a release. “He truly believes ‘many hands make light work,’ which also is an important 4-H tenet.”

The foundation said Ford is also a 4-H parent and has served in multiple volunteer roles, including as a contact leader for the Trinity Trailblazers 4-H Club, as a member of the DuPage County Expansion and Review Committee, and as a member of the local tri-county Extension Council.

Ford was among 67 new members named to the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame, and the group was celebrated at a special event at the Illinois State Fair in August, the foundation said.

“These long-time volunteers fully embody what 4-H strives to instill in youth,” Angie Barnard, Illinois 4-H Foundation executive director, said in a release. “They are caring, dedicated, generous leaders, and the Illinois 4-H Foundation is extremely proud to be able to provide this honor to each and every one of them to thank them for their service to this wonderful organization.”

The Illinois 4-H Foundation established the statewide Hall of Fame in 2004 to honor and celebrate extraordinary 4-H alumni, volunteers and former 4-H staff. Each inductee received a commemorative Hall of Fame medallion.

Photo provided by Illinois 4-H, University of Illinois Extension.