By Erv Skaar
Spring, 2010
Looking back to 1960, the 4-H program in Isanti County had the following clubs and leaders:
- A-Sant-Inn Spartans, led by Mrs. Willard Roe of Bethel, Mrs. Merril Christensen, and Mrs. Robert Lillion of Grant.
- Blomford Buccaneers, led by Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Boettcher, Mr. and Mrs. William Soderberg, and Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Van Slooten.
- Bradford Champions, led by Mrs. Marvin Bartz and Mrs. Lloyd Kluck.
- Braham Hustlers, led by Charles Daley. (all one family)
- Braham Lively Lassies, an all-girls club, led by Mrs. Buford Johnson, Mrs. Norman Kutz, and Mrs. Carl Peterson.
- Braham Northern Lights, led by Mrs. William S. Anderson and Mrs. W. Kron.
- Crown Creators, led by Mrs. Louis Daudt of Zimmerman, Mrs. Ralph Lemke of Bethel, Mrs. Walter Olson of Bethel and Mrs. Dudley Cummins of Bethel.
- Dalbo Patriots, led by Mrs. Alton Anderson, Mrs. Albert Erickson, and Mrs. A. Wallin.
- Day Busy Bees, led by Mrs. Orville Myren and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Pierce of Ogilvie.
- East Cambridge Cubs, led by Mrs. Albert Dahlquist of Cambridge and Mr. Alvin Norling Sr. of Harris.
- Ever Ready Club, led by Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Sendin, Mrs. Pug Larson and Mrs. Lloyd Stavens of Stanchfield.
- Isanti Jr. Boosters, led by Mrs. Art Strike, Mrs. Ed Strike, Mrs. George Strike, Mrs. L.W. Voss, and Mrs. Alton Hagg.
- Long Lake Leaders, led by Mrs. Carlton Anderson and Mrs. George Buckingham of Grant.
- Maple Ridge Live Wires, led by Mrs. Ray Bengtson of Braham and Ed Carpenter of Stanchfield.
- Oxbow Busy Bees (Cambridge), led by Mr. Harold Bug and Mrs. Lawrence Lood.
- Oxford Sturdy Oaks, led by Mrs. Henrik Elmstrand, Mrs. Clement Peterson, and Mrs. Douglas Peterson of North Branch
- Oxlip Victory, led by Mrs. Roy Kniesal of Grant, Mrs. Clement Peterson of Grant, and Mrs. Douglas Peterson of Princeton.
- Pine Lake Explorers, led by Mr. and Mrs. Orvill Anderson of Harris and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Medin of Cambridge.
- Rice Lake Rangers (Braham/Stanchfield Area), led by Mr. J. Henry Anderson, Mrs. Chester Carlson, Mrs. Manley Sadowski, and Mrs. Jerrold Vegound.
- Spencer Brook Ripples (Princeton), led by Mrs. L. Meihell, Mrs. Howard Grams, Mr. and Mrs. A. Lee, and Mr. and Mrs. Omer Meyer.
- Spring Lakers, led by Mrs. Gerhard Stone.
- Springvale Go Getters, led by Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Johnson and Norris Shugren.
- Stanford Stars, led by Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Jensen.
- Town and Country, led by Mrs. Delmar Munkberg and Mrs. Dean Anderson of Cambridge.
- Walbo Willing Workers, led by Mrs. Randolph Sandstrom, Mrs. Art Carlson, Mrs. Curtis Larson, and Mrs. Eldon Zierke.
New 4-H clubs organized after 1960 included:
- Hi Lites, led by Mrs. Alvin Dadlin and Mrs. Vernon Pearson.
- Rum River Beavers, led by Mrs. Lawrence Lood and Mr. Elmer Olson.
- Sandy Knoll Diggers, led by Mrs. Art Staube and Mr. Wallace Fisker.
- Cedar Crickets, led by Duane Wieklund, Merrill Christiansen, Mrs. Robert Rawson, and Nathan Dutcher.
- W Rittier Happy Hustlers, led by Mrs. Charles Black, Mr. Marlyn Michael, Mrs. Wallace J. Johnson, and Mrs. Cletus Heerigs.
- Bradford Pioneers, led by Mr. and Mrs. Allen Dahlin of Isanti.
- Grandy Evergreens, led by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Felland.
- Lakeside Victory, led by Mrs. Kenneth Peterson, Mrs. Roy Kriesel, Paul Puck of Grant, and Mrs. Floyd Stromberg of Zimmerman.
- Lucky Tri-Ats, led by Mrs. Herbert Wassing, Mrs. Glenn Tallman, and Mrs. Fred Crast of Bethel.
- Wyanetters, led by Mrs. Donald Haubergschild and Mrs. Chester Erickson of Princeton.
- A new Cambridge club was led by Jack Maki and Mrs. Harry Eruth.
- Athens Beaver Busters, led by Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Knapp, Debbie Rosenberg, Mrs. Dennis Mack, Gayle Anderson, JoAnn Castellano, and Rita Tagg.
- Braham Krackers, led by Darlene Lickness, Ronald Lickness, Harold Hagfors, Joan Shockman, Beth Lickness, and Mrs. Arvin Koepke.
- Edgewood Oakes, led by Dennis Bengtson, Sharon Berkmer, Sharon Heuring, Paul Ryberg, Kris Raymont, Lorrie Bengtson, Carol Ryberg, Sherri Syring, Bob Beckner, Gordon Heuring, and Della Thies.
- Grandy Evergreens, led by Marge Kitchens, Jan Lane, Sherry Anderson, Carlyn Johnson, Jim Lane, Carla Trylten, Verna Leaf, Cheryle Ojeda, Mrs. C. Frarck, and Jessie Ojeda.
- Isanti Indians, led by Lois Felt, Jan Daudt, Sharon Schafer, Barb Brown, Helen Person, Donald Daudt, Roy Halvorson, Lois Wojack, Joan Halvorson, Mary Madden, Charlotte Smith, Jeannette Roeder, Shirley Omlid, Mrs. Thomas Jesse, Thomas Jesse, and Serge Felt.
- Another Isanti Indians club was led by Mary Ellen Bone, Elaine Kolb, Mrs. Herbert Selliland, Clell Bone, and Thomas Kolb.
- Long Lakers, led by Jan Helching and Mr. and Mrs. E. Reynolds.
- In 1978, the Lucky Tri-Ats were led by Fran Strodtman, who is now the director of the Cambridge Senior Activity Center, Bette Edberg, Beverly Adamek, and Paul Edberg.
- Northside Flyers, led by Carol Marten, Betty Letterman, Fran Marten, Nancy Siems, and Kerry Nastrom.
- Ridgewood-Seneca, led by Jay Gerdin and Mrs. William Borchardt.
- Riverside Riders, led by Joyce Knoll, Marlys Eells, Mr. and Mrs. Ellie Knudson, JoAnne Beavis, Gary Knoll, Jim Eells, Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne Putz, and Mrs. Roger Miller.
- Roadrunners, led by Carolyn Hanson, Kareen Englund, Marvin Hanson, and Susan Tillman.
- Rum River Rattlers, led by Jan Oakes, Ruth Quintus, Jean Hansen, and Mary Fritz.
- Seekers, led by Valerie Marty, Leanne Sanborn, Dorothy Sendin, and Sue Brazie.
- Southeast Stars, led by Donna Nelson, LaVonn Schultz, Bill Bump, Elly Reichle, Evonne Bode, Larry Nelson, Kris Bungo.
- Spencer Brook Beavers, led by Sheila Genamill, Harlan Herman, Bev Zabel, Margaret Herman, Betty Adams, La Jean Herman, Marge Clemons, Harold Zabel, and Simone Wilbur.
- Sundrops, led by Lorna Johnson and Marcel Peterbough.
- Westside Whistlers, led by Dawn Peterson, Lois Brown, Joyce Lindquist, Jackie Ostrom, Elaine Mellin, Valerie Stamm, Jackie Engquist, Barb Nuorda, Diane Peterson, Caryl Sheridan, and Marilyn Hall.
- Cedar Creek Horsemen, led by Mr. and Mrs. Gary Knoll and Mrs. Lloyd Tagg.
- Cambridge Challengers, led by Mary Forslund and Linda Torgeson.
- Isanti Bronc Busters, led by Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Andrews, Mrs. Ed Rosenberg, and Mrs. Dale Erickson.
- Oak Branch, led by Jared Oquist, Dawn Oquist, and April Thomas.
- Southside Sizzlers, led by Susan Liddell, Michael Liddell, Judith Lumak, Thireson Olson, and Lavern Schultz.
- Spencer Brook Horsemen, led by Nancy Hoffman.
- Special Friends, led by Mary Forslund and Mary Swenson.
[Note from Cart to Cupboard: Thanks to Erv for sharing this history with us!]
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