HOT PURSUIT

Fairs are always filled with rich traditions of all sorts, often involving multi-generations. Last week while at the Steele County Free Fair, I stumbled across one that deserves special recognition.

Jane Nelson and her husband, Allen, were inducted into this year’s Livestock Hall of Fame. What I learned from Jane after the ceremony is nothing short of remarkable.

During Jane’s 10-year stint as 4-H educator for Steele County in the mid-80s, she was responsible for starting a program that eventually went on to become statewide. I’m referring to the Cloverbud program, which is for children in grades K-2. It’s a pre-4-H program tailored to get kids hooked on the youth program before they can join regular 4-H.

“We were the first county in Minnesota to have Cloverbuds,” said Jane. “It was my idea.”

Jane told me she came up with the brainchild after looking at the Cub Scouts program, which at the time was recruiting boys in second grade.

“I thought why don’t we recruit kids in kindergarten,” Jane said. “I wanted kids that wanted to be in a program and were teachable.”

At the time, Jane served on the Steele County Fair Board and convinced them Cloverbuds would be a good thing. In her first attempt, she got 20 kids to sign up for Cloverbuds. The program went on for two years before it spread across the state.

Jane admits she never thought it would grow like it has. She said all she was after at the time was to “provide a learning experience for the county kids.”

This is where the story becomes even more heartwarming. Jane’s daughter, Tracy Ignaszewski, now serves as the 4-H educator for Steele County. Today, she is fostering about 75 Cloverbuds in the 4-H program. “We are now in a big uptick with Cloverbuds,” Tracy said last week.

And to make things even more special, Jane’s granddaughter, Lexie Ignaszewski, does the same thing as 4-H educator in Freeborn County. Three generations of 4-H leadership in one family. How much better does it get than that?

Jane is proud of the fact that she got to work with her daughter for one year in the 4-H program before she left. Tracy has been at it ever since.

“We’ve always been a 4-H family,” said Jane, noting her children showed rabbits, chickens, sheep and beef while in 4-H.

Jane said she is humbled to receive this year’s Hall of Fame honor from Steele County. “It makes you realize there are people that appreciate what you did,” she said.

In 4-H, Jane says, you have to learn to lose and lose gracefully. She went on to add 4-H provides great leadership, life skills and job opportunities.

Said Allen, “4-H is even discussed at our gift openings. We talk 4-H at any family event. Sometimes we talk more about the red ribbons than the purple ribbons.”

There is no question Jane has been a trailblazer for the 4-H program not only for Steele County but for the rest of the state.

It’s wonderful to see that the county went in hot pursuit of highlighting Jane’s contributions to one of the best youth programs in America.