4-H Leader is Recognized for 25 years of Service

The University of Illinois Extension Lake County recently recognized Karen Dietrich of Lake Villa, IL for her service of twenty five years to the Lake County 4-H program as a 4-H leader. Karen has been the organizational leader of the Chain O' Lakes 4-H Club in Grayslake for this entire time. The club has more than 35 members and its main focus is on the Horse Project, Rocketry and Natural Resources projects.

Karen also has been very involved with the Public Speaking project in Lake County 4-H promoting workshops to help all 4-H members improve their public speaking skills. The Chain O'Lakes 4-H group has had members who have competed at State and National 4-H speaking competition with much success in the past years. Karen also concentrates on making the 4-H members aware of the importance of giving back to the community, be it assistance at the Forest Preserves, cleaning wetlands, collecting for the local food pantries or donations to the PADS organization or a local animal rescue.

Karen has also chaired the Lake County 4-H Horse Committee for more than twenty years promoting the horse riding program, fair competitions and various other learning sessions for the members. She has also assisted the county extension office on promoting 4-H Club Officer Training through workshops for all Lake County 4-H officers to promote confidence, 4-H knowledge and to teach the proper parliamentary procedures for a group meeting. Karen understands the importance of keeping good 4-H records and how important these are to the members in the future and has assisted with county 4-H workshops to help the members with this aspect of the 4-H program.

Karen is retired from her job of more than twenty some years, and enjoys her free time with her husband, daughter, and her two 6 year old twin grandchildren. Karen's other hobbies are gardening, reading, volunteering, traveling, and trying to make the world a better place.