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By Morcto NelesenGoz»tf Stoff _For Donna Hillmann, seeing one of her kids “walk off a winner’' at the Rock County 4-H Fairis like a shot of energy that will carry her through to next year’s fair.“I’m just a plain old mother who enjoys doing something like this,” Hillmann said of ter 19-year involvement in 4-H. ‘‘It’s very rewarding.”When Hillmann says “kids,” she means not only her own five children but those children who are members of ter Johnstown 4-H foods groupWithout “plain old mothers” and otter dedicated people like Hillman who put in above-average involvement, the county’s 4-H fair would not be possible.Hillmann’s motto is to help the kids “make the best better. If they come up with merit awards, I like to think the kids really tried and practiced, that they’re reaping their harvest. I’m real pleased.”Hillmann, 49, Route 1, Milton, and her husband, Friedo, were in 4-H themselves when they were young.When Hillmann’s children became involved in 4-H 19 years ago, she filled in where she was needed-first as a forestry leader and then as an art leader. A few years later, she became foods leader, which was “more my bag.”Her duties have included running the 4-H foods revue, serving as assistant superintendent of foods at the fair, as club chairman and county key leader.Being a 4-H leader means being willing to open up your kitchen to a little girl whose cake flopped at ter own home.Or volunteering to be float chairman because otherwise there just wouldn’t be a float.In recognition of the extra steps she’s taken over the years, Hillmann was named an (Hit-standing 4-H leader in 1987, a county honor.One of Hillmann’s most rewarding jobs is working with food revues, where 4-H’ers “put their knowledge to work” by planning a place setting and cooking part of a menu.“You just have to have a desire to help the kids and a little extra time,” Hillmann said.Hillmann feels an allegiance to 4-H.“4-H teaches children responsibility, looking ahead and making goals,” Hillmann said.It’s a way rural families have found to be to-The little ones are such a joy to work with. They're so eager and they have this real desire to learn something, put it to work and go home to practice.'—Donna Hillmanngetter, she added. “It’s very rewarding to our family.”In fact, at the fair, the entire Hillmann family is headquartered in the beef barn, where all the children have had beef projects.“We just kind of sit on the fair box, and that’s home ground at the fair,” Hillman said. “It’s your home away from home.”The Hillmanns started each of their children in beef projects with a free animal. The child then sold the animal and used that money to buy another.“I don’t know what we’ll do when we’re out of beef,” Hillmann said with a smile. “We won’t have a place to sit.”Hillmann became a leader when ter first child joined 4-H and she always thought she’d leave with ter fifth, who will finish her involvement next year.But you wonder when you tear Hillmann talk.“The little ones are such a joy to work with,” Hillmann said. “They’re so eager and they have this real desire to learn something, put it to work and go home to practice.”Hillmann had a chance to work with the club’s Cloverbuds and discovered that, “There’s a good crop (of girls) coming up.“Gee, they’d be fun to work with.”If you have an idea for a Hats Off story, contact the Sunday Gazette editor.■**Al Hoch/Gazafta StoHDonna Hillmann finds working with the fair's 4-H food revues rewarding.
Newspaper Details
Janesville Sunday Gazette
Janesville, Wisconsin, US
Sun, Jul 30, 1989
Page 22
Full Page
Clipped by
Judy S.
WI, USA 12 Mar 2022
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