Since 2002, the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame has recognized and honored volunteers and staff who have gone above and beyond in support of their local county 4-H programs. This year, the County Extension office in Wright County has nominated a couple who has a long involvement with local 4-H participation and the Wright County Fair – Bill and Marcie Brodersen of Clarion.
Marcie joined 4-H in the fourth grade as part of the Lincoln Lassie’s League. She showed horses for one year, cattle, and also entered numerous static entries – Home Improvement and Food and Nutrition were her favorite project areas.
Marcie was part of an active 4-H family. In addition to she and her five sisters belonging to the local club, her mother was their leader for a while her dad led a boys’ 4-H group. Later, two of Marcie’s sisters also served as leaders of the Lincoln Lassie’s League (although the club had undergone name changes). .
In 2000, Marcie and her husband, Bill (originally from Nebraska), moved from Des Moines back to the Clarion area.
“We wanted to raise our kids in a small town,” Marcie said.
In 2007, Marcie found her way back into the 4-H program, taking over both the 4-H Food Stand and the pop stand at the Wright County Fair.
“Bill just kind of got drug along for all of this,” she said lightheartedly.
Anyone who has ever eaten at the food stand can tell you that one of the most sought-after items on the menu is the pie…because it’s homemade by Marcie. Each year she makes, from scratch, 120 pies (that started with her sister’s recipe) that are usually sold out by the end of the five-day Wright County Fair. To prepare, she typically begins making the dough on Memorial Day weekend. This year, however, with things being uncertain due to COVID-19, Marcie said she instead spent the weekend cutting and prepping rhubarb from the family farm in hopes that the fair will go on. Rhubarb seems to be one of the favorites of the fair-goers each year.
While Bill doesn’t bake the pies, he sure is good at selling them. When you go through the 4-H Food Stand line, you’re almost always greeted by Bill and his smiling face saying “What can I get for you?”
“Bill does a really good job taking the orders, handling the money,” said Marcie. “He loves seeing all the kids and families come through…and meeting all the people.”
They also appreciate their many family members who also help out running the foodstand.
In 2008, Bill and Marcie became 4-H parents as their oldest daughter, Kelsie became a member of the Dayton Lake Club (she has since graduated), followed soon after by their second daughter, Chloe joining – who will be a senior next year. You might have guessed it already, but when her daughters got involved, so did Marcie. She has now been the club’s leader for the last seven years.
“My family’s motto is ‘Once a 4-Her…Always a 4-Her,”” Marcie noted.
Despite all she and Bill have done – not only their local 4-H program, but the Wright County Fair as well, Marcie was humbled to win this award.
“I was shocked. My first thought was ‘Isn’t there somebody else who is more deserving?,” she admitted. “It is super sweet (that we were thought of). We love (4-H). We’ve had so much fun over the years.”
So what’s their favorite part of 4-H and the Wright County Fair?
“The chaos,” Marcie said with a little chuckle. “It’s fun to see the Eagle Grove and Belmond kids we don’t get to see all the time because we live in Clarion.”
4-H runs deep in this family.
“We have had nine grandkids involved with 4-H and one great grandchild….with more to follow,” she said proudly.
When Marcie and Bill aren’t busy with 4-H responsibilities, they enjoy helping out with the Clarion wrestling team.
