Retired Lake County teacher shares a lesson in giving back
Don Guske was raised in Crown Point, Indiana, on a 103-acre family farm that his father purchased from his grandfather in 1942.
“We had dairy cows, some swine, and a big garden, and all of the things that make up a farm,” Don said. “I started 4‑H when I was 10, and as a family we were very involved in the program.”
He had a bit of four leaf clover luck right out of the gate. “My first 4‑H experience was attending the Farm Bureau Co-op’s annual meeting with my parents. They were raffling off a young steer for the 4‑H project of raising an animal. My name was called, and I got to go down and pick a Hereford that I took to the fair, and I thought, ‘Oh wow, this is really a way to start!’”
Throughout his 4‑H membership, Don was busy with various activities, including gardening, woodworking, entomology, and showing animals.
“I loved the companionship of the other 4‑H members at our meetings and all of the educational trips we took,” Don said. “It was a really enjoyable experience.”
He is grateful for the opportunities and personal growth he experienced through 4‑H. “First of all, the leadership component of the program carried over into so many areas of my life. But more than that, it taught me to listen and respect other people’s opinions.
“I learned that other people will have different views than me, but we can still work through problems and create solutions together,” he shared.
After high school, Don attended Purdue University and earned a degree in Agriculture Education. The interpersonal skills learned in 4‑H were invaluable for Don in his career as a teacher, counselor and administrator in several Indiana schools.
After serving as an educator in Lakeville and Freemont, Don found his way back to the Crown Point area where he and his wife, Shirley, raised their family. In 1999 he retired after working in the Munster School system for 30 years, the last 10 of which he was principal of national Blue-Ribbon winning Wilbur Wright Middle School.
Though he was busy with school related obligations, he maintained his appreciation for 4‑H and continued to go to the county fair, where he enjoyed visiting the 4‑H members and their animals, especially the rabbits. Then, several years ago, something caught Don’s eye in the local newspaper that drew him back into more active 4‑H involvement.
“I read that Lake County had received a gift from Jerry Snyder’s estate to establish the Lake County 4‑H Endowment,” Don said. “I decided that I need to do something, too, because 4‑H had given so much to me.” That article inspired Don to become a donor himself.
“Here in Lake County, we have such a diverse population, and it’s wonderful to see how 4‑H has expanded into the bigger cities like Gary and East Chicago,” Don said. “We can’t all raise animals, so it’s great to see the expansion into technology projects and alternative ways of growing plants that don’t require 25 acres.”
Today Don supports the Indiana 4‑H Foundation by donating to the Lake County Endowment, as well as maintaining an Emerald Clover, where his unrestricted gifts support the greatest needs of the 4‑H program.
“I like that my donations can be used by the educators in the counties for whatever they see as the most pressing need, or biggest opportunity to grow the programs,” Don said.
“While it’s appealing to restrict a gift to a certain project or scholarship, the county leaders know better than I do what will create the biggest impact. I think it’s important to give them flexibility in how to use the donations.”
His hope for the future is that the 4‑H program continues to grow around the state, buoyed by donor support.
“It feels good to know you are helping our youth in Indiana. Any amount that donors can give will be well managed by the 4‑H program and will truly make an impact.
“I’m excited to see what’s to come, both here in Lake County and around the state.”
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