Karyn Santl in the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Office in Roseau, and Jennifer Skuza, the Extension associate dean for youth development, successfully nominated Bill Svendsgaard for the national 4-H Hall of Fame. He will be inducted on Oct. 2 in a ceremony in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Svendsgaard retired from Extension in Hennepin County in 2002. He is known for creative arts and work with youth from marginalized communities. He and his wife, Aljean, have made dozens of gifts to the 4-H program and he leads a group preserving the history of 4-H through the U Archives and Minnesota History Center.
"Congratulations, Bill, on this prestigious honor," says Skuza. "You are an artist and a historian. Thank you for sharing your expertise and enthusiasm for Minnesota's youth through our 4-H Youth Development program."
The National 4-H Hall of Fame inductees - Minnesota
2002
T.A. “Dad” Erickson, 1st Minnesota State 4-H Leader, 1914-1940
Leonard Harkness, Minnesota State 4-H Leader, 1949-1980
2004
Delores Andol, Roseau County 4-H Agent
2005
Susanne Fisher, State 4-H staff; professor emeritus and retired assistant director, Florida 4-H program and chair, Department of 4-H and Other Youth Programs, University of Florida
2006
David Pace, state 4-H staff, associate professor emeritus 4-H Youth Development educator
2007
Juanita Reed-Boniface, state 4-H staff, associate professor emeritus 4-H Youth Development educator
2009
Bill Stevens, conservation manager, Federal Cartridge Company
Jim Kemp, retired 4-H agent and NAE4-HA president (nominated by NAE4-HA)
2011
Wayne Carlson, state 4-H staff, associate professor, University of Minnesota; training consultant, Farm Credit Bank, St. Paul
2020
William Svendgaard, professor emeritus, retired U of M Extension 4-H educator