Nine people from Minnesota are included in the first 100 inductees into the National 4-H Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony was April 11 at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Md., during the National 4-H Conference.
The Hall of Fame is a 4-H Centennial project and exists exclusively in cyberspace. For more on the 100 VIPs, including the nine Minnesotans who helped create, expand and promote the nation’s largest youth development program, visit
The University of Minnesota Center of 4-H Youth Development nominated T.A. “Dad” Erickson and Leonard Harkness. The other seven native Minnesotans were nominated by other states or by the National 4-H Council. Inductees are:
T.A. “Dad” Erickson (deceased) was born near Alexandria. In 1904 Erickson started the first Minnesota corn club by sending one pound of corn seed to any student who agreed to exhibit 10 of their best ears at their school fair. From 1914-1940 he served as the first Minnesota State 4-H Club Leader.
Leonard Harkness was born on a farm near Waterford and currently resides in Shoreview, Minn. He was director of Minnesota 4-H for 31 years, from 1949-80. Those who worked with Harkness said he “knew the kids, knew their farms, and knew about their projects.” He encouraged leadership, and many of his staff members moved on to national 4-H and international programs.
Ed Aiton (deceased) form Itasca County proposed the idea of international exchanges that became the International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) program. He helped raise funds to build the National 4-H Center, and served as it first director.
Lawrence Biever (deceased) from Lincoln County led the first nationally sponsored urban 4-H venture in Chicago. The programs for low-income families and minorities were unique to the segregated 4-H programs of the 1950s.
Elsie Carper, St. Louis County, worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Extension Service in
4-H from 1944-1983. She planned National 4-H Camp and the National 4-H Conference. She is now a 4-H historian in the Washington, D.C., area.
Norman Mindrum (deceased) from Rushford was executive director of the National 4-H Foundation. He led the merger of the two organizations to create the National 4-H Council in 1977, and retired as its CEO and president in 1982.
Kathleen Flom of Belview spent 20 years in program and administrative positions at the National 4-H Center, National 4-H Foundation, USDA and the government of Uganda. She resides in Chevy Chase, Md.
Clara Oberg (deceased) of Ramsey County was a 4-H club agent instructor in Ramsey County from 1938 to 1953. In 1952 she became the first female president of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents.
Dick Sauer of Walker, was president and CEO of the National 4-H Council from 1989 to 2000. Previously he was at the University of Minnesota as director of the Agricultural Experiment Station; vice president for Agriculture, Forestry, and Home Economics; and interim president.