Their many years of unselfish commitment began when the leader quit soon after their daughter, Sheila, joined 4-H.
"I was roped into" replacing the leader, Arlene said. "At the first meeting I was so scared of those little girls I was shaking in my boots."
Their son, Mark, joined 4-H, the leader quit, and "pretty soon I found myself [the boys] club leader," grinned Jake. "You don't really think about it, you just see something [that needs doing] and do it. I feel good when I can help out."
Their tenure as club leaders continued long after younger son John grew up, until relinquishing leadership reins in 1987 after 20 and 17 years, respectively. "We enjoyed working with the kids and helping them succeed," said Arlene.
Her specialty was Share-The-Fun activities. Not only did her club participate in the first county Share-The-Fun event, but the kids won second place at the state fair.
Both continue to bed dedicated 4-H supporters as members of Monroe County 4-H Alumni; and on Saturday morning of the fair, Jake and Arlene enjoy cooking and serving breakfast, sponsored by a local business, for all exhibitors and their families.
Arlene served many years on the Monroe County 4-H Council, while Jake was a long time member of the Monroe County Extension Council,County Fair Swine Show superintendent and member of the fair board, responsibilities son Mark has assumed.
Additional honors and activities include 2004 Monroe County Ag Hall of Fame; more than 50 years' membership in Monroe County Farm Bureau with Jake currently on the county board of directors and past treasurer; Arlene is a member of the Women's Committee. Both are active members of Trinity United Methodist Church; he is on the Chariton Valley REC Board of Directors and she is a member of the Albia Women's Club, Albia FFA Alumni Association and Professional Musicians and Entertainers Club of Iowa.
As a youngster, Arlene learned to yodel while "going after the cows" morning and evening.
Since her first public performance when son, John, asked her to sing with one of his bands, she has become known as Southern Iowa's Yodeling Granny. She has won second place in state fair yodeling competition, performs regularly in Albia Restoration Days Follies and the
Unionville Hee Haw Show as well as other musical events.
"The highlight of my career was performing on the Breshler and Dutton Show in Branson, Mo.," she said with pride.
Except for a stint in the U.S. Army, Jake has never lived far from his birthplace in Wapello County. Married nearly 53 years, the couple has lived since 1963 on the 415-acre farm where
Arlene grew up a few miles east of Albia. In addition to farming, their busy lives included off farm employment with Jake working many years as a mechanic for Henderson John Deere
Implement in Albia and Arlene a bookkeeper 19 years for several local businesses including Duea Chevrolet, Behnkes, GB Equipment and Albia Livestock Sale Barn, and 10 years as kitchen assistant for Albia Schools.
"Mostly retired," Jake continues, with Mark's help, farming on a limited basis including a Charolais cow/calf operation. "We quit growing row crops and put the farm all in hay and pasture," he said.
Family is very important. Their greatest pleasure is spending time with their three children, five grandchildren and great-granddaughter all of whom live within a few miles of the "home place."
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