Once 4-H members themselves, Derek and Angie Dusthimer have since turned into loyal 4-H volunteers, parents, and donors who believe in the impact 4-H has on youth. As lifelong supporters of Ohio 4-H, they wanted to share what motivates them to give back to the program.
Q: Tell us more about your background. What’s your connection to 4-H?
A: I was a 10-year 4-H member in Licking County completing natural resources, vegetable gardening, bicycle, and woodworking projects at the Hartford and Ohio State Fairs. My wife, Angie, was a 9-year 4-H member in Delaware County where she trained and showed horses. Both of us were active with our county junior fair boards and pursued other leadership experiences like camp counseling, State Conservation Camp, State Leadership Camp, and Citizenship Washington Focus. However, the culminating moment of my (Derek) 4-H experience was being selected as the 1994 recipient of the Agriculture State Achievement Award and attending the National 4-H Congress.
Q: Where/what do you give within 4-H? Why are those areas meaningful to you?
A: I started sponsoring the Environmental Sciences Achievement Award a few years after graduating with my master’s degree from Ohio State. Today, this is an award Angie and I sponsor together. We have also purchased market animal projects at both the Hartford Fair and the Delaware County Fair for several years and sponsor clock trophies for the Ohio State Fair.
Q: What inspires you to donate to 4-H? How do you hope your giving will make a difference?
A: Not long after meeting we learned we each grew up participating in 4-H. We both felt strongly about the impact 4-H had on our formative years, and it helped form a bond between us. We recognize that the lessons of leadership, citizenship, and responsibility 4-H provided have molded us into the leaders we are today. We want to support an organization that is developing the next generation of leaders, and know the experiences made available through donations create opportunities that can change futures.
Q: Besides giving, how else do you engage and connect with 4-H?
A: I volunteered as a 4-H advisor for five years and Angie volunteered for seven years on the Delaware County Junior Fair Sale Committee. We are now proud 4-H parents, with our oldest having just finished his second year showing lambs and taking natural resources projects.
Q: In 10 words or less, tell us your favorite thing about 4-H.
A: 4-H provides engaged learning to grow tomorrow’s leaders.