Del Curto named 4-H Leader of the Year

Cove 4-H instructor Tammi DelCurto was recently named Union County 4-H Leader of the Year after heartfelt nominations from peers, parents and club members.

DelCurto has led the Cove 4-H Livestock Club for some nine years, and is also the secretary with the Union County 4-H Leaders Association and coach of the Union County Livestock Judging Team.

The kids themselves said they appreciated DelCurto’s dual emphasis on responsibility and fun.

“(DelCurto) has done an outstanding job on many levels and is well-deserving of this great honor,” said Vicki Hill-Brown in presenting the award.

Marge Addleman, president of the Union County 4-H Leaders Association, said DelCurto’s contributions have been invaluable.

“She has just done an exceptional — I mean, exceptional — job as secretary,” Addleman said.

DelCurto has been secretary of the leaders association for about four years. Prior to that, she was vice president, and even held both posts simultaneously for one term.

Addleman added, “I really, really enjoy working with her. She is so solid.”

DelCurto is quick to spread the recognition to her associates and club members. “I couldn’t do it without all the help from my assistant leaders and the parents,” she said.

Having been involved in 4-H since she was a child — with beef cattle, cooking and sewing — DelCurto places great value in the institution’s impact on its participants.

“I think it’s a wonderful program that teaches responsibility and commitment,” she said.

DelCurto and her husband, Tim, an Oregon State University associate professor in the Department of Animal Science, have three children: Hannah, Scott and Molly.

DelCurto accepted the award at the Annual 4-H Recognition Banquet on October 12.