Kansas woman inducted into National 4-H Hall of Fame
Lindy Richardson Lindquist was honored for her lifetime commitment and achievement.
Photo available
Released: Nov. 3, 2015
CHEVY CHASE, Md. – Lindy Richardson Lindquist was one of 16 laureates for the 2015 class of The National 4-H Hall of Fame. The Kansas native was honored at a ceremony Oct. 9 at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The laureates were recognized for their excellence in citizenship, leadership, character, career accomplishments and contributions to 4-H.
Lindquist, who now lives in Manhattan but is originally from Topeka, was first nominated by the Kansas 4-H youth development program to be considered for this honor. She is the 13th Kansan to be inducted into the Hall of Fame; Kansas has the most inductees of any state in the nation.
“I am rarely ever at a loss for words, but honestly it is hard for me to say how much this recognition means to me,” Lindquist said. “My 4-H heroes are in the Hall of Fame. It is not something that I ever thought I would be even nominated for much less selected.”
“At the ceremony, it was humbling to hear what the other laureates had done,” she added, “and it made me proud and appreciative for the thousands of people I have worked with through my career in extension.”
Her career in 4-H has placed her in many different regions and capacities. Lindquist began her career in rural Chase County, Kansas, as a family and consumer sciences agent. She then moved to Douglas County, where she continued to work with young people.
As an agent, Lindquist worked closely with many community groups through extension programs. She would also become Kansas’ first state and national 4-H events coordinator. She served as a founder of many new programs for Kansas 4-H.
During her illustrious tenure with extension that spanned three decades, it is estimated that Lindquist touched the lives of more than 21,000 young Kansans through her dedication to 4-H and its programs.
“I thought I would work in Chase County 4-H for a couple of years and then do something else, but once I started working with those 4-H’ers, I just decided that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” she said.
“The reason I fell in love with extension is the 4-H members, first of all, and then the volunteers,” Lindquist said. “They are so devoted to the young people who we work with in 4-H, and they give so much. I don’t think anybody realizes how much time our volunteers put into our program.”
Lindquist said one of the things she is most proud of is the creation of the Kansas 4-H Youth Council.
“Beth Hinshaw, who is an area 4-H specialist, and I worked with a wonderful group of 4-H members, agents and volunteers to start that organization,” she explained. “When I see now what they have done over time, it is just amazing what our 4-H members will do to benefit our program.”
Even in retirement, Lindquist continues to make a positive impact on the lives of those around her. She is active in philanthropy work at the local, state and national levels, and 4-H continues to serve as a vital part of her life.
As examples, Lindquist volunteers her time with the Kansas 4-H Foundation, Kansas Youth Leadership Forum and the Stack the Plates Campaign. Many of her former 4-H proteges remain in contact with her, she said, including 15 former 4-H’ers who became extension agents.
“It takes a dedicated and caring woman to help raise a child and be more concerned about others than herself, and it’s even more rare when it’s ‘raising’ thousands of children and keeping those relationships as young people grow into adulthood,” said Rhonda Atkinson, associate director of the Kansas 4-H Foundation. “For Kansas 4-H, that’s Lindy Richardson Lindquist. She taught by example that the best thing young people can do with their lives is provide service to others.”
4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization, as it reaches more than 6 million young people annually. Members are involved in a variety of programs relating to leadership, community, citizenship, mentoring and life skills. For more information about 4-H, visit 4-H website.
The National 4-H Hall of Fame was established to honor those who have made a significant impact at all levels of 4-H: local, state and national. The Hall of Fame is in its 13th year. For more information about The National 4-H Hall of Fame and its recipients, visit the National 4-H Hall of Fame.
-30-
K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.
Story by:
Connor Orrock
K-State Research and Extension
cworrock@ksu.edu
For more information:
Lindy Lindquist – llindqui@ksu.edu or 785-776-5633
Rhonda Atkinson – ratkinson@ksu.edu or 785-532-5881
Pam Van Horn, 4-H extension specialist, K-State Research and Extension – pvanhorn@ksu.edu or 785-532-5800
