4-H leader is inducted into Hall of Fame

Sunday, September 7, 2008

NEW HAMBURG -- Dedicated. Committed. Humble. Leader. Giving unselfishly.

All those words are used to describe Pat Moore, club leader of the New Hamburg Eager Beavers 4-H Club. And those attributes are what contributed to her being inducted in the 4-H Hall of Fame last month at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, honoring Moore's 44 years of service to the organization.

Pat Moore poses with her 4-H award

"She is, in my opinion, the person who has kept the 4-H club in Scott County strong," said Donna Taake, 4-H youth specialist for Perry, Cape and Scott counties, who nominated Moore for the award. "I felt that she definitely needed to be honored for that -- it's a wonderful accomplishment, and she's given much dedication to the community."

When Taake informed Moore of the nomination at a council meeting in June, Moore recalled that she had mixed emotions.

"I was very honored to be nominated," she said. "But when I found out I was accepted, I didn't know if I was deserving or not."

The paperweight she received is displayed proudly on the stereo in her living room, for all to see.

And those who know and have worked with Moore over the years had no question of whether she deserved the award.

"She is extremely humble and doesn't take recognition, but I wanted to give her the recognition she deserves," said Taake. She credited Moore for being the glue that held the organization together when there wasn't a specialist to serve Scott County.

Dorothy Deason, a past 4-H leader in New Hamburg who actually helped recruit Moore 44 years ago, agreed. "I just don't think 4-H can say enough about what Pat has done," she said.

"We have always been very active, and that's very much because of Pat," continued Deason. "For one thing, I remember that if another community did not have a club, she would willingly take in those kids -- there were no town lines. And then as each community got involved, they were then able to make their own organizations."

Deason recalled that she and another leader asked Moore to be involved in the organization when she was a teacher at the then-St. Lawrence School in New Hamburg. She still teaches, but now at St. Denis in Benton.

"She's just one of those people that never says no," said Deason. Her first year, Moore taught a foods class. Since then, she's been a foods leader each year, and also pitched in to lead other classes, such as wildlife, over the years.

"And I have learned so much myself," Moore said of teaching over the years. "

Deason said it's the longevity about Moore's service that is unique.

"She's been a part of it since before her kids were involved, while they were involved, when they weren't, and now while her grandchildren (are in the club)," she said. That Moore has been so active, even when she didn't have any family in the organization, says a lot, Deason said.

Deason said Moore's family has been very supportive, and should also be commended for her service.

Moore said one of the things she is most proud of in her service is that, each year, the organization has raised every penny of the cost to send teens on the 4-H trip to Washington, D.C.

'Each year, the cost went up, but I know that some of them could not have afforded it on their own," said Moore.

She said that, when she accepted her award in Sedalia, there were other honorees who have served even longer than Moore has.

"It gave me the inspiration to keep on going," she said. But she said she's not sure how many years she'll continue to be a part of the organization. "But I do have a grandson that's looking forward to being in it -- he can't wait to be in it to show his cattle at the SEMO District Fair."

But what keeps her going is to hear 4-Hers say "I just love 4-H," said Moore.

And if the leadership she has given over the years is any indicator of what she will give in years to come, she'll likely hear children saying that for many to come.

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