4-H Foundation Board Member

Jim Schmidt, Board Chairman, McLean County

Jim Schmidt is a retired employee of the Illinois Farm Bureau with 34 years of service in program management and event planning. Born and raised in Carrollton, Illinois, Jim was a 10-year member of the Brushy Hustlers 4-H Club and was named a 1971 National 4-H Club Congress delegate. An IFYE ambassador to Jamaica for a six-month exchange, Jim is a Quincy University graduate. Jim worked as a 4-H Youth Advisor for 1 ½ years in Pulaski and Alexander Counties. Jim has been a Project Leader volunteer and has served on various county extension and 4-H committees in McLean County. Jim resides in Normal with his wife, Arlene. They have one daughter, Amber, who was a 10-year 4-H member and National 4-H Congress delegate.

Barbara Rundquist Clark, Cook County

Mariah Dale-Anderson, McLean County

Mariah serves as the Youth Activities Manager for the Illinois Farm Bureau. Before she worked for the Illinois Farm Bureau, she worked for the Illinois FFA Association as the Postsecondary Director and she also worked in Product Development for Syngenta Seeds, Inc. She earned her bachelor's degree in agriculture and communications from Illinois State University.  Both of her parents were avid 4-H club leaders and supporters. She was raised in Dongola, IL and was a 10 year member of the Dongola Hilltoppers 4-H club. She was also a 1997 National 4-H Conference representative. She now lives in rural Clinton with her husband, Greg. They operate a fall garden mum operation as a side business and have been volunteer judges for the DeWitt County 4-H for the past four years. Mariah is a member of the Miss DeWitt County Fair Pageant Committee, serves as secretary for the DeWitt County Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee and also the Clinton FFA Alumni.

Beverly Haselhorst, Stephenson County

Bev works part-time as Educational Program Coordinator for University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County.  She previously taught Family and Consumer Sciences at Dakota High School. Bev received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Illinois where she met her husband Pete, a retired captain with American Airlines.  Bev was a member of Nora 20th Century 4-H Club in Jo Daviess County.  Both she and her daughter were members of 4-H House Sorority.  Bev’s son was a delegate to the 2002 National 4-H Congress.  Bev volunteers with numerous educational and community organizations and received the YWCA’s Women of Excellence Community Service Volunteer award in 1991.  She enjoys flying with the three family pilots, traveling to Fighting Illini football games, and visiting her second home in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Linda grew up on the farm in Mason County that she now lives in. She is a retired dental assistant of 34 years, and her family has been very active in 4-H. Her grandfather and father were both 4-H leaders of a club that is still in existence. She is a 10 year member of that same club, and she is also leading a club going on 12 years. She has been on the Mason County 4-H and Jr. Show Board and also served as president. She is also the Superintendent of the Horticulture Department at Mason County Fair. She is involved in her community's Forman Valley Foundation Board and a member of the Monito Forest City Rotary. Her hobbies include gardening, traveling, and being with her family and friends.

Steve Launius, PhD., Washington County

Steve is a retired Illinois educator. He is a former Vo-Ag instructor, elementary principal, school superintendent, and community college coordinator. He earned a PhD in Educational Administration from SIUC, Advanced Certificate in Education from the  University of Illinois, Master's of Science in Agri-Business from SIUC and a Bachelor's of Science in Agricultural Education from SIUC. Steve is a twenty-five year board member of the Washington County Farm Bureau and a thirty year superintendent of  the agricultural products department of the Clinton County Fair. He is a former member of the Cloverleaf 4-H Club in Madison County. He currently manages the family farm and has served as an officer of educational, church, and community clubs. In 2011, he was appointed a Soybean Ambassador by the Illinois Soybean Association.

Keith Parr, DuPage County

Keith Parr is a partner with Locke Lord, LLP in Chicago. His practice focuses on issues in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, agribusiness and energy areas. Keith earned an Agricultural Science undergraduate degree and a law degree from the University of Illinois and has served on the College of ACES Advisory Committee. He and his wife, Lissa, reside in Elmhurst and have twin daughters and one son. Keith is a native of Donnellson and was a member of the Reno Ramblers 4-H Club in Bond County.

Sharon Scherer, Monroe County

Sharon is a retired educator having worked eight years as an Extension Educator with the University of Illinois Extension Service and the remainder of her career as a high school teacher. Sharon earned her BS degree from the University of Illinois and Masters degree in Education from National- Louis University. She was a 10 year 4-H club member in Jersey County and attended National 4-H Club Conference as the result of her club work. She has volunteered in many local organizations and served as President of the University of Illinois Mothers Association. Sharon and her husband, Ron, enjoy traveling, Illini sporting events and raising popcorn on their small farm in Richland County.

Sheri Seibold, Champaign County

Sheri is a member of the Illinois State 4-H staff and serves as an Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development with areas of responsibility in volunteer development, risk management, staff development, and Cloverbuds.  She has a degree in Home Economics Education from Iowa Wesleyan College and Northern Illinois University.  Sheri was an active member of the Steuben Sewing Songsters 4-H Club in Marshall County.  She is a member of the Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth Education (IEPYE) and the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4HA).  Sheri has worked in various locations during her Extension career including Lake, Grundy, and McHenry Counties as well as the Grayslake, Manteno, and Matteson Extension Centers in northeastern Illinois.

Larisa Sica, Youth Representative

Larisa Sica is a current 10 year member of the Westdel 4-H club in Kane County. She is a representative on the Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team, a a Speaking for Illinois 4-H training team member and a Kane County 4-H Ambassador. In her club, she has held many offices including President, Vice President and Secretary. Larisa has received multiple state blue awards, attended National 4-H Congress, National 4-H Conference, received the Illinois 4-H Key Award and the Illinois 4-H LCP Award. Larisa is currently completing her senior year in high school at Elgin Academy. In her spare time she enjoys riding her horse Maxx, volunteering at a local equine hospital and doing community service.

Randy Sims, Adams County

Randy Sims is a lifelong resident of Adams County. He obtained a bachelors degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois. He is the recipient of the 2003 Prairie Farmer's Master Farmers award, 2003 ACES Alumni Association Award of Merit, and was in the first class of the Illinois Agriculture Leadership Foundation that graduated in 1984. He formally served 10 years as a member of the Illinois Farm Bureau, as well as active with the local and national branches. He lives on his farm with his wife, Mary Ann, where they raised their three children. He is currently the President of Sims Enterprises, Inc., which sells about 1100 weaner pigs per week and is a partner in Sims Farms which farms about 1600 acres of corn and soybeans. He was a member of the Burton Flyers 4-H club for eight years.

Mark Sturgell, Macon County

Mark Sturgell is the owner and president of Performance Development Network where he works as a leadership coach, motivational speaker, and performance consultant. Mark has served as the director of Business and Corporate Solutions at the Millikin Institute and is a past president of organizations including the Central Illinois Chapter-American Society for Training & Development (ASTD), the Macon County 4-H Foundation, the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Heart of Illinois Chapter, and the Metro Decatur Chamber of Commerce Commodores. Mark was a member of the Bell Ridge Ag 4-H Club and is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and was a 4-H member in Edgar County. Mark and his wife live in Decatur and have three sons.

Dean West, Saline County

Dean's life was heavily influenced by his 4-H activities. The highlight was meeting his future and now-present wife of 27 years and the mother of his 3 sons at a county livestock-judging contest. He was raised on a cattle farm in Gallatin County and attended the University of Illinois receiving his B.S. degree in Animal Science in 1980. Twenty- six years ago, he started West Financial Services in Harrisburg, IL where he advises clients on investment and insurance matters. He has served on various civic, educational, and financial boards. In addition, he served as trustee of Southeastern Illinois College for 12 years. Dean and his wife, Trudy, are University of Illinois Alumni and are proud of their Illini family. Their oldest son is an alumnus, their middle son is a University of Illinois student, and their youngest will enroll in the near future.

Eric grew up around McLean County 4-H all of his life.  His parents were both club leaders and avid 4-H supporters.  Eric was an 11 year 4-H member, a dedicated 4-H Federation member, as well as officer and past King of the McLean County Fair.  Residing in Elmwood, Illinois, he works as Brand Supply Manager for LG SEEDS, a national brand of corn/soybean/alfalfa seed.  Eric graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. and M.S. degree in Crop Science Agribusiness in 2002 while living four years at Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity.  His past experiences on the U of I Judging Team lead him to judging many 4-H livestock shows in Illinois and other states.  His wife, Tara, is also a 4-H supporter and works in the dairy industry.  Eric’s interests include livestock, farming, and snowmobiling.

Tiffany Yates, Sangamon County

With a focus on the possibilities in people,Yates has a passion for innovation and business development. Yates has worked as a strategy consultant in technology innovation, healthcare, private equity ventures and professional services firms. She considers herself to be a lifelong learner of the individual people that make business possible. Yates has a B.B.A. from The University of Mississippi, an M.A. in Economics from Western Illinois University and a Ph.D. in Organization Development from Benedictine University. She is an adjunct professor and has presented or published her research to numerous global audiences. As the previous president of the Stalemates 4-H Club, Yates contributes her interest in leadership development to her 6 years in the Morgan county 4-H program.

Lila Jeanne Eichelberger had a 40 year career as a home economics teacher. She retired in 1989 as department head from Centennial High School in Champaign. A member of 4-H House cooperative sorority, Lila Jeanne earned a Home Economics undergraduate degree and master’s degree from the University of Illinois. Lila Jeanne was a member of the Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club in Mason County. Lila Jeanne was elected to the Illinois 4-H Foundation Board in 1993 and served from 1993-1999. In 1999, she was named “Board Member Emeritus” in recognition of her effective leadership and tireless work in successfully transitioning the Illinois 4-H Foundation operations into the Office of Advancement in the College of ACES. Lila Jeanne is a charter member of the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame and was recognized with the Friend of Illinois 4-H Award in 1999.

Dr. Robert G. Hoeft, Interim Associate Dean, Extension & Outreach

Dr. Denise Legvold, Assistant Dean & Director, 4-H Youth Development

Meg Cline, Associate Dean, Advancement, College of ACES