Rohrig enters 4-H Hall of Fame

Kathy Rohrig of Orient was honored as Adair County’s 4-H Hall of Fame inductee during the 2022 Adair County Fair.

She retired from the Adair County ISU and Extension Outreach Office in March as the agricultural programs coordinator. She spent 23 years in that office but has devoted many more years to the cause of 4-H.

“I was overwhelmed because it’s such an honor to be in the 4-H Hall of Fame,” Rohrig said. “It’s something I’ve always thought would be really cool, but I was really honored to receive the award. 4-H has been a significant part of my life, from when I was a 4-Her myself to a 4-H leader, 4-H parent and now a 4-H grandparent. It’s an organization that gives kids so many opportunities.”

Rohrig, originally from Jesup and a Buchanan County 4-Her as a youth, began working in 1998 as the Neely-Kinyon coordinator. She worked heavily with and for educational opportunities at the Neely-Kinyon Research Farm south of Greenfield.

Over time, she began overseeing the educational and re-certification opportunities that Extension does for those in the agricultural world.

She also has facilitated the Speak Out for Agriculture (SOFA) program, which gives students in the region a chance at hands-on learning opportunities relating to agriculture that might reach beyond the family farm’s fences.

A presentation given by senior 4-H member Madison Carstens during the gazebo presentations stressed that Rohrig has been an integral part of investing in the future of Adair County 4-H and its youth for many years.

“It’s such a joy. Even today at the hog show, watching second generation kids in the ring, you can remember when their parents were young showmen out there,” Rohrig said. “It’s fun to see those ‘full circle moments’ where you saw their parents doing it and now you see their kids doing it.”

Joining Rohrig at the fair, as she received the award, were her husband, Brian, daughter Jessica and husband Nigel of Michigan, and son Matt and wife Heidi and children of Orient.

“I’m just grateful that I had parents who modeled servant leadership,” Rohrig said. “I’ve tried to carry that on.”