Norm joined 4-H at age 10 and never quit! He continued his 4-H membership with the Purdue Collegiate club, graduated and began a career with 4-H as a County Extension Agent. He later became a State 4-H faculty member. As faculty, Norm’s responsibilities were primarily with 4-H Animal Science programs but later expanded into risk management, organizational roles, and structures. He always focused his programming towards the 4-H members, volunteers, producers, and community-based groups. He worked tirelessly building a partnership with the Department of Animal Sciences for creating and developing animal science workshops bringing more than 300 youth to the Purdue campus annually. These 3-day workshops impacted Indiana 4-H youth for more than 25 years. Additionally, Norm collaborated with the State 4-H Dog Advisory Committee, Leader Dogs for the Blind, and Canine Companions for Independence. Under his leadership, 4-H youth fostered companion puppies to raise and socialize before returning for advanced training by the respective organizations for future recipients. Another beneficial partnership was between the State 4-H Department and the State FFA Department for the developing and conducting of hands-on competitions and judging contests. This fundamental collaboration reached thousands of Indiana youth pursuing agriculture activities during Norm’s 34-year 4-H Extension career.
In 1978, Norm was appointed Executive Secretary of Indiana’s 4-H Foundation by the Indiana 4-H Foundation Board and the Extension Director. During those 15 years of leadership, he split his time serving as 4-H Foundation Director, and as State Extension Specialist for 4-H/Youth with additional responsibilities as the manager of the Hoosier 4-H Leadership Center. He also implemented the first state-wide membership/donor program designed for underwriting the needs of the Indiana 4-H Foundation’s programs growing assets by 150%.
Since retirement in 1998, Norm has remained active as a State Fair judge, President of the Purdue University Retirees Association, active with his family farm, church, and spending time with his ten grandchildren!
