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MT. PLEASANT — A colorful new mural now stretches across the east-facing wall of the Henry County Iowa State University Extension Office building in downtown Mt. Pleasant, honoring the spirit of 4-H and the young people shaping its future.

Painted by local oil artist Annie Guldberg in collaboration with the Henry County 4-H Teen Council, the mural titled “4-H Is …” is the result of nearly a year of visioning, fundraising, and community collaboration.

“So that was a project with our Henry County 4-H Teen Council,” said Erin Heaton, 4-H Program Coordinator at the Extension Office. “We were brainstorming some things, and we decided that we thought a mural would be great on our building, just to encompass what 4-H is.”

The idea was born in fall 2024 with an initial plan to paint on a farm east of Mt. Pleasant. But the council shifted gears to prioritize visibility and community engagement.

“We asked the 4-H Teen Council … I took the idea to them and said, ‘Hey, would you be interested in doing a mural?’” Heaton said. “They said, ‘Yes, absolutely.’”

From there, the project quickly turned into a full-fledged leadership experience. “

They set to doing some fundraising, because they were tasked to fundraise half of the cost of the mural,” Heaton explained. “They still have a little bit of money to raise. So they are still accepting donations toward the mural.”

The teens secured most of the funding by approaching local businesses and individual donors in the community.

“They went around and had businesses that donated. They went and talked to other individuals in the community, and they donated also,” Heaton said. “They just went to people that they knew and asked for donation.”

Heaton said the fundraising process offered more than just financial results.

“They learned communication skills,” she said. “They learned, you know, talking about the design, because a lot of people said, ‘Well, what’s this mural going to look like?’ And they said it’s going to look like what 4-H means to us.”

With the funding underway, the Teen Council began working with Guldberg to bring their vision to life. The teens provided a list of themes and ideas that represented what 4-H meant to them — leadership, community service, STEM, agriculture, and more.

“They sent those to Annie, and Annie developed a design, and then they talked about what they liked, what they didn’t like, and sent her some changes,” Heaton said. “She redesigned it. Then they did that a couple times, back and forth.”

The mural began to take shape in early June, drawing attention from downtown pedestrians and drivers as Guldberg worked outdoors on the busy street corner.

“The highlight of the day was definitely having 4-H Teen Council volunteer Caden helping me,” Guldberg wrote in a June 4 update. “If you haven’t guessed it yet, this is a 4-H themed mural, with the images in the mural brainstormed by the Teen Council about all that 4-H encompasses. Caden worked on the purple ribbon, which is the highest ribbon to receive on their project at the fair. More colors coming at you tomorrow.”

Heaton confirmed that Caden Mullin, a Teen Council member, contributed to the mural during two painting sessions.

“She gave them the opportunity to come and volunteer and help her do some of the painting,” she said. “Caden did the big purple ribbon. And then I think he painted some strawberries one day also.”

That sense of ownership and hands-on contribution is what makes the project special for Heaton, a 4-H alumna herself.

“It’ll be fun for those 4-H’ers to look back and say, ‘Hey, that’s something I was part of,’ for years to come,” she said.

On June 9, the mural was completed. Guldberg shared her reflections with the community that had cheered her on throughout the process.

“It was wonderful to complete this mural concept with their feedback and even have a volunteer 4-H member as a painter,” she said. “It was a very amazing experience for me to be out on such a busy corner painting because the community support and encouragement (and literal cheers!) that were so generously given to me while I painted. You have filled my heart with joy — thank you.”

The mural features a wide range of symbols representing the diversity of the 4-H program in Henry County.

“There’s the chick hatching, and we do this chick hatching in the classroom,” Heaton said. “A lot of the fruits and vegetables that are on there we go and do Pick a Better Snack in the classroom.”

For Heaton, the mural is more than decoration — it’s a statement of identity for the Extension Office and a window into what 4-H offers.

“It just touches on just a little bit of everything we do,” she said. “It’s more broad than it was maybe when I was in 4-H. I think we just reach more kids where they are … whether it’s in the school, whether it’s after school, in the classroom, in the traditional club.”

She continued, “We can better serve them if we’re going to where they are. That’s how we have to meet the needs of the youth that we’re serving.”

Heaton emphasized that 4-H isn’t just for farm kids.

“Really, anyone can be in 4-H, and we try to help you find a topic that fits you and a way to kind of showcase what you’ve learned,” she said. “It means community to me. I’ve been part of 4-H since I was a fourth-grader, so this has kind of been part of my life forever.”

As donations continue to roll in toward the remaining $1,000 needed, the Extension Office welcomes contributions from anyone who wants to support the project.

“They can just make a donation to the Henry County Extension Office and just put in the memo that they want to make it toward the mural,” Heaton said.

Looking back at the months of collaboration, creativity, and community support, Guldberg offered a final tribute:

“Since this is a 4-H themed mural, I will close with the beautiful 4-H Pledge for you to enjoy:

‘I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS to larger service, and my HEALTH to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.’”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com