For some, it had been more than 50 years since they had seen their fellow 4-H members. But how quickly they reconnected!

In August of this year, 40 members and volunteers from the Elmwood Lads and Lassies 4-H Club held a reunion at the home of Gary and Suzanne (Schwartz) McGhee. Four of the club’s volunteer leaders attended the reunion:

• Leona Kroupa, 86, was the club’s main leader. She taught sewing, baking, cooking and knitting for more than 25 years.
• Helen Bugai, 95, was an avid gardener who shared her love of vegetable gardening with the club members. She was the oldest “4-H Lassie” at the reunion.
• Ardith Bugai shared her skills as a gifted seamstress and creative arts and crafts person with the club members.
• Irma Schwartz, 85, taught grooming skills, entomology, knitting and sewing.

Those who gathered for the reunion reminisced about their cherry pie baking contests, sewing contests, a field trip they took to Washington, D.C., and a 4-H float in the Cherry Festival parade in the 1950s. They even sang some 4-H songs!

Here’s what some of the former members had to say about their experiences in 4-H:

• “I made lifelong friendships! Our 4-H meetings were the neighborhood’s social event.”
• “I discovered adults outside of my family who thought I was special.”
• “4-H seemed like a family affair even though many of us were not related.”
• “I continue today to use the skills I learned in 4-H.”
• “We were fortunate to have the leaders to guide us; they remained committed to us throughout our growing up years. They told us we could do anything if we tried.”
• “4-H taught me about personal values, working hard, independence, confidence and service to the community.”
• “4-H was an important part of my life!”