4-H Sparks a 50-year Career That’s Giving Back to Youth
By Dee Weeda, broadhead
Ever wonder where you’d be today for not having the one or two formative experiences that ignited your passion and sparked talents that have brought you to this point in your career?
Harlen Persinger doesn’t wonder. He knows.
“Without 4-H I never would have been a photojournalist. I would have been lost for a long time,” he says, reflecting on an immensely successful career that spans more than 50 years.
Persinger is such a strong believer in what 4-H did for him, today he is a benefactor to 4-H youth from his home county, providing college scholarships to deserving individuals who have an interest in photography/journalism and agriculture. He began doing this in 2017 and has awarded 10 scholarships.
“4-H is just so important. It teaches life skills, and it provided me opportunities that I would never have had otherwise,” Persinger says.
Persinger’s experiences in 4-H began as many others have before him―on a family farm growing up with his two sisters. He was a nine-year member of the Palermo Money Makers 4-H club in Grundy County, Iowa, exhibiting dairy cattle and other livestock projects. It was through 4-H in 1961 that the Persinger family hosted an International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) delegate from Italy, and this is where Harlen’s 4-H story begins to foster his skill as a photographer and storyteller.
Harlen himself became an IFYE representative from Iowa to Norway in 1970 (after receiving a B.S. in Dairy Science from Iowa State University and completing a tour in Vietnam with the U.S. Army.) In Norway, he spent six months with five farm families, learning and capturing their stories in photos. By presenting his stories and photos through the IFYE program, he received encouragement from a friend to return to Iowa State for a degree in Agricultural Journalism. Harlen did, receiving his degree in 1972.
The teachings of 4-H, the 4-H Motto “To make the best better,” and his experiences through the program were indeed the springboard for Persinger’s career. He put his skills and talents to work for Harvestore Farmer magazine, Webb Publishing and Bader Rutter and Associates. Since 2004, he has freelanced for regional and national farm publications such as Successful Farming, Farm Industry News and the Wisconsin Agriculturist plus scores of others.
Harlen has traveled to more than 40 countries, has been a member of American Agricultural Editors Association (AAEA) now Agricultural Communicators Network (ACN) for 48 years (never missing an AAEA/ACN annual meeting). In 2016, he was the first photojournalist/freelancer and active farmer to receive the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
In August, this humble and talented stalwart of the agricultural communications industry added another honor to his resume when he was inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame as the 2023 honoree from Grundy County. He received the recognition during a ceremony at the Iowa State Fair. In addition, he recently enjoyed attending the 75th Anniversary of the IFYE program held in Louisville, Kentucky. 4-H and IFYE―two programs he credits with shaping his career.
Inductees into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame, like Harlen and his mother who also received this award, represent the many people in Iowa who have contributed countless hours to the 4-H program. They work tirelessly to see that Iowa’s youth have a great learning experience in a safe and fun environment.
The Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2002 as 4-H celebrated 100 years of a program dedicated to teaching youth life skills. The award recognizes the many caring adults who are committed to youth and the program.