Collectively, the Leona Mast family has 94 different individuals who have been 4-H members, leaders, or volunteers. 42 of them are able to be here tonight to share in this honor. Although Leona herself was never a 4-H member, she realized the positive impact the program had on youth and became a 4-H leader in 1958. Since then, the Mast family has amassed 821 years of 4-H club membership and 90 years of serving as 4-H club leaders.
Leona, along with her husband Tim, raised seven children; six of which became active in 4-H. The Mast family ran a large dairy, poultry, and gardening farm. For the Mast family, 4-H reinforced their family values of caring, trustworthiness, fairness, and respect. Since then, the desire to extend theses values and opportunities have spanned over four generations of 4-H members, including 44 grandchildren and 41 great grandchildren.
From the beginning, Leona set high standards for her family as well as her 4-H club. Leona encouraged every member of her 4-H club to prepare presentations for the annual food and flower shows, this helped members, young and old, gain confidence in public speaking. Despite the drive she inspired in her members, Leona always made time for fun.
The Mast family participated in the “Share the Fun” variety show every year. One of Leona’s grandchildren reflects on the years of participating in the variety show, “Every year we had a Share the Fun act and we were not a family of talented thespians. But Grandma had a unique way of making us believe that we could get up on stage and act! That was the kind of leader our grandmother was-- always getting us together to do our best and to believe in ourselves”.
The desire to serve has extended over three generations. Both Leona and her daughter, Betty, were named “Leader of the Year” by the Adams County 4-H program. Eight of her grandchildren have served as 4-H leaders around the state of Illinois. Her granddaughter, Theresa, was honored in 1994 with the “Dale Donley Outstanding Leader of the Year” award from Adams County.
Judy Yeast states, “In all the years, my grandmother, Leona Mast was a 4-H leader, her club members received very few white ribbons. If Leona were here today she would not expect credit for her member’s accomplishments. It is fair to say, that as a dedicated 4-H leader, this remarkable woman played a key role in guiding her 4-H clubs to exceptional levels of success.” The spirit to serve was a legacy that Leona left her family and a tradition the Mast family is proud to carry on.