Roseau Times-Region - Serving Roseau County for over 100 Years - The Official Roseau County Newspaper

On Thursday of Fair Week, several Minnesota 4-H directors gathered at the Mini-Stage to thank everyone for helping Roseau County establish an endowment fund which will ensure a sustainable 4-H program in Roseau County.

Jane Johnson, the Interim Executive Director of the Minnesota 4-H Foundation spoke first, and she thanked the 4-H alumni, members and families for their continued support.

She then introduced Beverly Durgan, the Dean of the University of Minnesota Extension.

"As a proud 4-H alum, and on behalf of University of Minnesota Extension, I am so happy to be here to recognize the creation of the Roseau County 4-H endowment," she said, noting that 4-H is the largest youth organization in the state.

"I think the reason we have such a great 4-H program is because of the dedicated volunteers," she said, adding that she is truly impressed with the 4-H participation in the county.

"Did you know that Roseau County has close to 900 annual participants and 76 adult volunteers? That is a testament to the commitment of this community to support quality youth programming," said Ms. Durgan, noting that the money raised in the endowment stays in Roseau County for 4-H programs.

She then introduced Nancy Frosaker, a Roseau County 4-H alum and the Extension Fund Development Coordinator for Northwest Minnesota.

"Since 2013, we have been working to raise support to create a Roseau County 4-H endowment at the Minnesota 4-H Foundation, and today it's a reality. It's wonderful," she said, while noting that with a generous gift of $2,000 from Border State Bank, they had reached the $10,000 threshold to create the Roseau County 4-H Endowment.

"We had many people who were willing to make a contribution, but I also have to say a great, big thank you to Sandi Weiland, the 4-H Program Director here, and the 4-H'ers who were involved in informing the community about the endowment."

She asked each of the 4-H phone-a-thon volunteers to please stand and be acknowledged - Alisa Kihle, Brianne LaDuke, Kaiya Novacek, John Novacek, and Martyn Novacek.

Also being acknowledged were those who have contributed more than $500 to the endowment - Garner and Sara Eeg, Lloyd and Norma Frosaker, Mark and Leslie Frosaker, Green Acres 4-H Club, Harriet Heinen, Carter and Becky Hontvet, and Philip and Roberta Johnson.

Sandi Weiland spoke last, thanking everyone for their contributions from $1 and up.

"The strength of our program is our kids and our volunteers," she said. "They give of their talents and their time, and we just can't say enough about them."