Kansas 4-H honors Jewell County leader

Kansas

Frank Langer, dairy farmer and longtime 4-H volunteer in Jewell County, has received a 2006 Kansas 4-H Alumni Award. The award honors citizenship, leadership and community service and was presented to Langer at the Emerald Circle Banquet, the state's annual 4-H award and scholarship event held June 1 in Manhattan.

Langer has served as the 4-H dairy project leader in Jewell County for 34 years, said Deanna Sweat, Kansas State University Research and Extension district agent in the Mankato office of the Post Rock Extension District.

Langer, who grew up in the county, joined the Webber Wide Awake 4-H Club in 1944. During his 10-year membership, he earned the breeding heifer grand championship at the county fair three times and represented Jewell County in the Best Groomed Boy Contest at the Kansas State Fair, said Sweat, who initiated the award nomination process.

As a 4-H member, Langer also participated in the Fort Hays Livestock Judging Contest for five years and served his 4-H club as its recreation leader, secretary, treasurer, vice president and president.

The former 4-H member credits his learn-by-doing experiences in 4-H and his striving to live by the 4-H motto, "To Make the Best Better," as lessons that have served him well throughout his life--which has included raising a family, dairying, serving as an agribusiness and community leader, and completing five tours of duty (mostly in the Far East) in the U.S. Navy.

In looking back on his life and 4-H experiences, Langer wrote: "Not a day passes that I don't realize that my life has been made better because I had the opportunity to be a 4-H member. I believe that the 4-H motto could make things better for situations we encounter on the personal, organizational, governmental (levels). ..."

While Langer has given much time to Kansas 4-H, his community service is not limited to the youth development organization. As a 40-year member of the Co-op and a director for 17 years, Langer realized the economic potential of merging four smaller co-ops to form the cooperative business association now known as the Aurora Co-op. The successful merger continues to boost the local economy.

He also has served as a Jewell County Commissioner for 12 years, on a 10-county regional planning commission for 10 years, on the Jewell County Fair Board for 17 years and with a volunteer fire department for five years.

"If Frank Langer sees a need, he is willing to work to meet that need," said Pat McNally, state leader, Kansas 4-H. "As 4-H celebrates its Centennial Year, it is a pleasure to honor Frank Langer as a 2006 alumni award winner. Frank joined Kansas 4-H in 1944--62 years ago--yet is still practicing the leadership, citizenship and service he learned as a 4-H member."

The alumni award is not the first 4-H award honoring Langer. In 1992, Frank, wife Bonnie and the couple's three children--Janelle, Larry and Lisa--were honored as the Kansas 4-H Family of the Year. And, in 1993, the Jewell County Extension Board presented Frank the County Extension Appreciation Award.

For the Langers, the Webber Wide Awake 4-H Club might seem like part of the family.

The club was founded in 1926, with Frank's mother (Wilma Vale Langer) a charter member. To date, four generations of the family have participated in the club. His mother, Frank, and (currently) daughter Lisa have all served as adult community club leaders, as well.

Date: 6/22/06

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