2022 Inductees: Danny and Cheryl Purdum
 For more years than anyone can count, Danny and Cheryl Purdum of rural Kent have contributed significantly to Union County 4-H and Clover Kids. These programs would not be where they are today without the Purdums’ efforts. Danny’s involvement began as a 10-year member of Union County 4-H, showing beef cattle and holding various club and county offices. He inherited his commitment to 4-H from his father, Raymond Purdum, who was a long-time club leader and volunteer. Cheryl, on the other hand, was recruited into the 4-H program when the Union County Extension director recognized Cheryl’s love of children and natural talent for working with them. The couple was leaders of the Douglas Boosters 4-H club when their sons Cody and Casey were members. In addition, Danny served on the Union County Extension Council. Danny also was integral in reviving fund-raising efforts and activities of the Union County 4-H Foundation in the late 1980s. In 1996, a grant allowed Extension to hire Cheryl to launch the county’s Clover Kids program. Not only did Cheryl train and assist volunteer leaders with programming that was used in community club meetings, but she also created and carried out monthly after-school Clover Kids programs in both Creston and East Union schools. At its peak, the program served serving more than 400 K-3 children, many of whom continued into 4-H and were members throughout high school. In 2004, Cheryl was recognized by ISU Extension with the Pride of Extension – Program Management Award for “outstanding efforts carried out with much originality or creativity by an individual.”
In 2007, Cheryl became county youth coordinator working with both Clover Kids and 4-H programs for an additional eight years. During her tenure, the county launched shooting sports and robotics special-interest clubs. Cheryl worked with the County Council, accompanied 4-H members as they traveled to team-building leadership events throughout the state, and guided members in securing grants to build small-animal wash racks for sheep and new pens for the swine barn.
Today, Danny and Cheryl remain involved with the 4-H program as supportive grandparents of eight grandchildren.
In addition to their service to 4-H and Extension, Purdums co-chaired the Greater Regional Hospice House fundraising committee and are members of the Creston Elks Lodge. Danny also served as a director for the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association, Innovative Industries and the Greater Regional Hospital Foundation. Danny retired as president of First National Bank of Creston in 2018. Cheryl is an avid equestrian, busy grandmother, and has served on the Southern Prairie YMCA board. The couple operates a family farming operation and registered Angus cowherd with son Cody.
2021 Inductees: Oliver R. and Dorothy E. Eyberg
 Oliver R. and Dorothy E. Eyberg of Arispe, Iowa, certainly exemplify the 4-H Pledge, especially for their service to Union County 4-H in leadership and professional roles. Oliver was born March 14, 1920, and died Mary 23, 2007, a life-long resident of the Arispe area. He served his country during World War II from 1942 to 1945 in the 76th General Hospital, Third Army in Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge. He was the father of five children. As a widower for nearly ten years, he was very supportive of his children, helping them in their various activities of school, 4-H and church. His children were members of 4-H Clubs for at least 25 years, ending in 1990. In addition to 4-H, Oliver was an Arispe Town Council member, Arispe Methodist Church board member, as well as a member of the Afton V.F.W. Post, Union County Genealogical Society and Murray American Legion. Oliver married Dorothy E. Barleston on September 8, 1973 in Creston, Iowa.
Dorothy E. Barleston Eyberg was born August 6, 1932, in Atlantic, Iowa and grew up on a farm in Cass County with her older sister. She joined the Benton Sunshine 4-H Club in 1945 at the age of 12. She was a member for seven years and completed projects in the annual rotation system. Dorothy was also a member of the Benton Future Farmers boys club which allowed her to have baby beef projects. She exhibited for several years at the AKSARBEN 4-H Stock Show. Dorothy also served as a county 4-H officer, helped with county-wide 4-H events, attended State 4-H Girls Convention and her most memorable event was attending the American Youth Foundation Leadership Camp, in Michigan.
After graduating from Iowa State College in 1955 with a B. S. in Home Economics Education, Dorothy continued her involvement with 4-H by serving as a County Extension Home Economist in Crawford County for five years and then in Union County for 28 years, retiring in 1987. Although she worked in various Extension Education Programs, 4-H was her first love and she enjoyed working with the program. Dorothy is also a member of the Arispe United Methodist church, Union County Genealogical Society, and a member of professional organization.
Oliver and Dorothy’s family includes Oliver’s children, Roger, Ralph, Dorothy A., Richard and the late Martha.
2020 Inductee: Walt Glynn
 In 1963, as the feed salesman for the newly founded Creston Feed & Grain, Walt Glynn put his experience showing and raising cattle to work in Union County. During one of his sales calls, he came across a young 4-Her fighting to break a tough steer for the county fair. Walt helped take the tough out of that steer, and he has been helping 4-H kids with cattle ever since. Raised in Cass County and active in the 4-H beef project there, Walt developed a deep passion for showing cattle. He fondly remembers the Cass County annual tradition of loading a semitrailer with beef projects and making the trip to the AKsarben Livestock Show in Omaha, Neb., for a week of exhibiting, making friends and having fun. Since making his home in Union County in 1963, if something has been happening that involves support for 4-H youth livestock projects, particularly beef projects, Walt has been involved. When the idea surfaced for a Celebrity Beef Show at the Union County Fair to raise money for ground improvements, Walt went to work and helped make it happen, recruiting businesses to participate. Once the money was raised, he kept working as a volunteer to complete a new cattle wash rack, pour cement alleys in the beef barns, expand the livestock show ring and make other needed improvements.
As a 4-H parent of four, Walt, along with wife Carol, was leader of the Douglas Boosters 4-H Club for nine years. He also served on the Union County Fair beef committee for approximately 25 years and the Union County Extension Council. He worked alongside Carol when she was a member of the Union County Fair Board. Today, if there is a beef show within driving distance of Creston, Walt is either in the barns coaching or in the stands watching. And sometimes he can be found near the semi loadout with tears in his eyes and an arm around a young shoulder as goodbyes are said. Through the years, many a 4-H kid with a calf has been taken under Walt’s wing. He loves kids and knows that when they work with livestock, they’re learning many valuable lessons and not getting into trouble.
Possibly his most notable, time-consuming, and selfless commitment to the 4-H program in Union County has been his support for the livestock auction at the fair. For more than 30 years, Walt has gathered money from local businesses and purchased animals on their behalf. Though he hasn’t always gotten the final bid on animals, Walt’s bids have ensured the buyers’ premiums were distributed comparably among all livestock exhibitors, regardless of placement or number of animals sold.
The businessperson, cattleman and farmer is a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, Creston Elks and the Union County and Iowa Cattlemen’s Associations. Walt and his late wife Carol have four children, and their family includes Thane and Rachel Glynn of Creston, Matt Glynn of Ankeny, Jodi and Chad Larson of Ankeny, Dirk and Beth Glynn of Carroll and nine grandchildren.
2019 Inductees: Wayne and Joan Hartsook
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