Nancy Kissel of Sheboygan was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame on Oct. 12 for her lifetime achievements and contributions to 4-H.
Honored by UW-Madison and the Wisconsin 4-H Youth Development Program, Kissel was one of 20 people inducted during the ceremony held at the Kellogg Conference Hotel at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC.
Nancy Kissel’s 66 years of 4-H involvement started as a high achieving 4-H member. Her three sons and extended family have also been actively involved in 4-H. Nancy founded a robust 4-H community club, serving as 4-H general leader and more as 4-H project leader. Her expansive 4-H volunteer contributions include roles at the county, state and national levels. Nancy credits her 1970’s part-time position as an urban expansion 4-H Staff Assistant, developing programs and organizing 4-H clubs for underserved urban and minority populations, with further developing her leadership skills.
While Nancy’s citizenship commitment began as a 4-H member, she continues to build her extensive resume, currently serving in her 12th year on the town Park and Forestry Commission.
Nancy’s professional career accomplishments cannot easily be separated from her volunteer contributions. As a stable owner, Nancy hosted youth interested in learning about horses including 4-H migrant summer school youth and English as a Second Language summer school students for hands-on learning experiences with horses. When groups could not travel to her stable, she trailered her horses to other 4-H educational events.
Nancy Kissel’s character is evident in everything she does. She lives the ideals of 4-H. Her contributions as a volunteer are impressive in longevity, but even more so in terms of the quality and depth of her ability to create sustaining systems that support the educational mission of 4-H on all levels. Her contributions have benefitted untold numbers of 4-H youth and adults.
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