Honoring local 4-H advisors

In honor of National Volunteer Week, Ohio State University Extension is honoring its volunteer advisers. Katie Cole, Extension educator in 4-H Youth Development, said the office wishes to honor all of its volunteers, but several stand out at having devoted more than 25 years to the youth of Seneca County 4-H. Pat Overmyer has been a volunteer with Sew Sharp for 52 years. She became a volunteer of Sew Sharp in 1970 when both of her daughters joined 4-H. She continued after her children left the program, teaching lots of children and even her granddaughter. She said she loves seeing the kids grow up and step up to become leaders. Linda Piper is a 39-year adviser for Fightin' 4-H'ers and a 4-H alumna. She has been married to her husband, Don, for 46 years, and they have three children, Joann, Kim and Keith, and seven grandkids. Linda is active not only in her 4-H club as the organization adviser, but is also on the Seneca County 4-H Advisory Council and is active in running the Milkshake Stand during the Seneca County Fair. Betsy Dewald is in her 31st year of being an adviser. She was an 11-year 4-H member as a youth, taking livestock and miscellaneous projects. Today, she has a daughter, Katelynn, who is an adviser with her, and a daughter, Emma, who is in 4-H with pigs and miscellaneous projects. Betsy is involved with the Junior Fair Sale and Swine Committee. Her grandparents, Merle and Catherine Hunker, met at the county fair and the rest is history. Dan and Denise Riegel have been advisers with Spirit of '76 4-H club for 29 years. They have two daughters, Heather (Micah) Dunzweiler and Erin (Curt) Mancuso, and three grandkids. Bennett and Tinleigh are starting their first year in regular 4-H and Lily is starting her first year as a Cloverbud. Dan is semi-retired, but still works mornings at Redline Equipment in Bellevue and farms full time. Denise works at York Animal Hospital in Bellevue. They have two hair sheep, two dogs and a cat with a very long name. They enjoy 4-H and the fair, and said they have had really good groups of kids and parents over the years and look forward to another great year. Elaine McCoy is in her 26th year as a 4-H adviser. She has been married to her husband, Tracy, for 24 years, and they have two children in college, Garrett and Logan, who were both involved in 4-H during their high school years. Elaine is a Cloverbud Adviser for Country Clovers, which was the 4-H club she belonged to when she was in 4-H. In addition to being an adviser, she is part of the Seneca County 4-H Advisory Council. She is involved in Fostoria City Schools Project M.O.R.E., Tiffin City Schools Read To Succeed, volunteers at The Ritz Theater and Tiffin Women of Action. In her spare time, she enjoys walking her cat, Champagne. Holly Nolan is in her 26th year as a 4-H adviser for Doggon'its. She is the treasurer adviser. Holly has worked at Seneca County Opportunity Center with adults and children with disabilities for 17 years. She has two children, Kassidy and Kaylor, who are active 4-H members and are involved with dogs outside of 4-H as well. She is on the Seneca County 4-H Dog Council. She also enjoys training and raising service dogs, showing and breeding, and she has done dog rescue over the years. Holly enjoys spending time with family and friends and going to state parks, hiking and exploring, fishing and just finding new places in nature.