4-H awards recall Scott County family farm gift

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By Alma Gaul | Tuesday, January 23, 2007 2:53 AM CST | () comments

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Signs on two Scott County roads recognize the Schlapkohls’ continuing gift to 4-H.

Hank and Eldred Schlapkohl and their sister Marie lived their entire lives on the family farm between Walcott and Blue Grass, Iowa. When the last of the three died in 1988, the 160-acre farm and about $250,000 was presented to the Iowa 4-H Foundation, still the largest gift it has ever received.

In the nearly 20 years since then, the Schlapkohl family’s gift has provided more than $1 million to support the programs and facilities at the Iowa 4-H Center, a 1,100-acre camp near Madrid, Iowa, where thousands of young people from throughout the state go for fun as well as training in leadership and life skills, said Albert Grunewald, associate director of the foundation.

Also during those two decades, two couples have helped maintain the Schlapkohl legacy in Scott County: Jim and Lynnette Buesing have rented the Schlapkohl farm, and Gene and Alberta Bernick have taken it upon themselves to landscape and maintain the ground around two signs that were erected to recognize the farm as a gift to 4-H.

For their efforts, the Buesings and Bernicks received partnership and stewardship awards, respectively, during the annual Scott County 4-H Family Fun Night on Saturday at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport.

Helping to present the awards was David Petersen, a Blue Grass dairy farmer and member of the state 4-H Foundation Board, who wants the Schlapkohls’ philanthropy remembered.

Marie was the last of the Schlapkohls; Petersen remembers her as a lifelong leader of the Blue Grass Sunshine Workers 4-H Club and as an organist for the Blue Grass Presbyterian Church. In 1936, she completed a 4-H project that won her a trip to the national 4-H Congress in Chicago.

Petersen also recalls that the auction for the Schlapkohls’ personal property, including antique gold coins and toy tractors in their original boxes, drew nearly 300 bidders with 1,800 separate sales.

The Buesings have rented the farm since 1991. “While some may view this as purely a business arrangement, Jim is pleased to have his rental dollars invested back into the Iowa 4-H program,” Petersen said.

The Bernicks live on the farm next to the Schlapkohls’, and when weeds began to grow up around the signs denoting the donation, Gene went out with his weed trimmer to keep the areas mowed. He also planted a small yew bush under each sign.

Alma Gaul can be contacted at (563) 383-2324 or agaul@qctimes.com.

More than 400 people gathered Saturday for the annual 4-H Family Fun Night at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport to recognize members, volunteers and donors with various awards.

In addition to the awards featured on the cover of today’s Salute section were these:

4-H Alumni Awards: Maggie Liske, Eugene Schocker

Honorary 4-Her Awards: Janet Friederichs, Jeff Liske, Julie Schocker

Friends of 4-H Award: John and Claudia VenHorst

Achievement: Rebecca Brus

UP Award: Emily Madsen

I Dare You Award: Kendra Behrens

Senior Project Awards: Citizenship, Rebecca Brus; communications, leadership, veterinary science, Nolan Petersen; home improvement, pets, dog, Kendra Behrens; photography, horse and pony, Kyle Zelle; science and technology, Mischka Lund; woodworking, Abbey Hardy; clothing selection, beef, Ashley Kuehn; beef, Mandy Moses; swine, Kaylee Keppy

Iowa 4-H Foundation Award: Cindy and John Schnekloth

Leader Awards: Dale Claussen, Russell Geurink, Barbara Harre, Michael Holst, Thomas Kirkeeng, Joan Martz, Denise Roesger

Livestock Judging Team: Carmen Drummond, Tyler Holst, Kaylee Keppy, Kourtney Lilienthal

Scott County Pork Producers Record Book Award: Ben Friederichs, junior, Kaylee Keppy, senior

Scott and Muscatine County Dairy Producers Record Book Award: Nolan Petersen

Merle and Jan Niemann Memorial Scholarship: Kendra Behrens, Tyler Holst

Arnie Claussen Scholarship: Kaylee Keppy, Brady Claussen, Tyler Holst.