Dr. Kirk A. Astroth

Beginning his career in 4-H in 1983, Kirk assembled an impressive record of leadership, advocacy for children, international work, publishing, curriculum development, fund development, and research. He led the development of several 4-H curricula including the 4-H Skateboarding project, Spurrin’ the Words 4-H cowboy poetry project, TerraPod (an environmental film-making project), At Home on the Range (a range science project), the national 4-H Sewing & Textiles curriculum, Backyards & Beyond 4-H project, the MSU Meth Prevention Project and Rockets to the Rescue, the National 4-H Science Day Experiment. In 1997, Kirk led the effort to create the Montana 4-H Center for Youth Development. He served NAE4-HA as Western Regional Director, Vice-President and President. Astroth served as chair of the Western 4-H State Program Leaders’ group, the National 4-H Program Leadership Team, and was chair of Joint Council of Extension Professionals. With Jim Lindstrom, they created the Western 4-H Institute training curriculum for new agents. Astroth also directed the UArizona Cooperative Extension VISTA, AmeriCorps and NCCC projects which engaged more than 60 volunteers to assist country Extension agents in program design, delivery and implementation. Astroth also served as the chair of the Montana Council for Families and the Montana Children’s Trust Fund, gubernatorial appointments. In addition to his national work, Astroth also helped spread 4-H by doing volunteer work in Lativa, Lithuania, Nepal, Mexico and Nicaragua. His family hosted a number of Japanese exchange students from LABO and LEX as well as chaperoning 4-H delegates to Japan, Argentina and Costa Rica.