Clubb family continues 4-H tradition

HAYESVILLE — In honor of National 4-H Week Oct. 2-8, The Union is profiling a local 4-H family that has been giving back to the community for three generations, and that is the family of Julie and Joe Clubb, who reside in Hayesville in Keokuk County.

Julie’s father Dennis Thomes will be known to anyone familiar with the Greater Jefferson County Fair, who can remember Thomes announcing the names of 4-H and FFA members over the loudspeaker each June. Thomes was a member of the Jefferson County Fair Board for 34 years, and leader of the boys’ club The Walnut Ridge Workers, which Clubb is now one of the leaders for. Thomes was inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame at the Iowa State Fair in 2011.

Clubb has been active in 4-H as long as she can remember, first as a participant, then as a mentor, and now as a leader. The Clubbs’ three children are also heavily involved in the group. Camryn, 15, and Carly, 11, are both 4-H members, and 8-year-old Cydney is in Clover Kids, with just one more year to go before she can join 4-H, too.

The family shows ducks, cattle, bucket bottle calves and projects such as home improvement and wood working. Their specialty is rabbits, which Clubb grew up showing along with cattle, chickens and sheep. Clubb has been a 4-H leader for the past 15 years, and last year was her first as superintendent of the rabbit show at the Greater Jefferson County Fair.

“I helped in that barn most of my life,” she said. “My dad was always the superintendent of rabbits and poultry.”

Thomes passed away in November 2017. To honor his many years of service and his special connection to the rabbit and poultry barn, the Jefferson County Fair Board named the barn in his honor in 2018, dubbing it “Denny’s Barn.”

“I guess you could say I am continuing the legacy,” Clubb said.

As a young child, Clubb was a member of the Country Clovers, an all-girls 4-H Club. When her father became leader of the Walnut Ridge Workers, it opened to both sexes, so she joined that club as well. That is the club she helps lead today, as well as being the organizational leader of the Lockridge Clover Kids.

Clubb said she’s glad to see her own children become active in an organization she and her father loved so much.

“4-H is an awesome experience for all involved,” she said. “The kids take pride in their work for a job well done. They also have built so many peer relationships over the years and have a great bond with the other members of the club. I think that they take away a sense of responsibility from their 4-H experience and they often do things out of their comfort zone to open up. We as leaders get to see them grow in their confidence from year to year and mentor the younger kids.”

Fairgoers might notice that Clubb’s name has often appeared on open class projects featured in the Activities Building at the fairgrounds. Clubb said she’s submitted entries for open class for many years, usually following along with the projects her children are doing.

“A lot of times I make what the kids make, and take it as my own project,” she said. “I love to crochet, and have crocheted many projects from pot holders to afghans. We like to decorate for most holidays, and this year we made a lot of Fourth of July decorations.”

Clubb said she’s been involved in 4-H long enough to see the group undergo changes. For instance, more and more activities such as enrollment are happening online now.

“That’s good and bad,” she said. “It’s good because you can do it from the comfort of your own home and don’t have to worry about things getting lost in the mail, but bad because not everyone has internet access.”

4-H has traditionally appealed to farm kids who have the resources available to raise livestock to show at the fair. Clubb said there are still many farm kids who participate in the club, but the leaders stress that kids don’t have to live on a farm or own animals to be in 4-H.

“The ultimate showmanship show that was held at the fair this year was an awesome opportunity for the kids to show an animal that they didn't have experience with or access to,” Clubb said. “There are so many other opportunities in 4-H. I went to Washington, D.C. on a 4-H citizens’ focus trip when I was a freshmen in high school with a few other kids from Jefferson County.”

Clubb said she loves seeing her children grow in the program, learning so much not just from her but from their peers as well.

“It’s awesome to see those teaching and learning moments,” she said. “4-H is what we do. It’s in our blood, I guess you could say.”

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com