Tony Wagner enjoys the projects and the kids in 4-H. He has been a 4-H leader for 39 years.
Wagner grew up in Green Valley, graduating from Pulaski High School. After graduation he farmed for 31 years. Wagner had 25 cows and 120 acres on the farm now worked by his son, Hank, who has 650 cows and over 800 acres. Wagner and his wife, Judy, have been married 53 years. They have five children and 10 grandchildren.
Wagner was Brunch on the Farm chairman for 20 years. He is the treasurer for Cornerstone Family Church, director of the Oconto Electric Coop, chairman of the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association of Wisconsin, and on the County Forage Council. He still helps on the farm three days a week, and he and his wife like to garden and travel.
Q How do you help with 4-H?
A “Right now I’m a superintendent for crops and vegetables. I’ve done it for quite a few years. … I was in Shaw-Oco 4-H Club where I had dairy, woodworking, gardening and probably crops. After I got married, my kids were in it. They came home and said they needed a leader. I was a leader for the longest time. I am on the Key Committee for gardening and crops, which meets twice a year. We talk about the fair book and have project meetings.”
Q How has 4-H changed?
A “I enjoyed what we had. Now there’s so many other related things to agriculture. We keep adding new things. When I’m at the fair I notice something and make a note. Actually parents sometimes call with suggestions. It’s good to hear from the parents. You stay young when you work with the youth. For 15 years I was the housing coordinator at the 4-H Conference in Madison. I have so many memories chaperoning kids. For many years I was on the exchange committee.”
Q Why do you like 4-H?
A “It’s a chance to work with kids and be a role model that they don’t have enough of any more. It gives the youth of today something to work for and responsibilities.”
Q Why do you volunteer?
A “I just have loved working with the kids. If you treat kids right, they’ll treat you right.”
Wagner said he now works with the children of some of the kids he first worked with in 4-H.
Categories
