Retired 4-H Youth Development Agent & Professor

Francis Ginther spent 30 years as a 4-H Youth Development Agent. Twenty-eight of those years were with Pierce County where he guided one of the largest 4-H programs in Wisconsin, consisting of nearly 900 community club members and more than 200 adult volunteer leaders. Frank planned, coordinated, and conducted numerous youth experiential learning events including camps, field trips, conferences, adult and youth leadership trainings, and countless Fair educational activities. In 2014, Ginther and the Pierce County 4-H staff team were recognized with the National Excellence in 4-H Club Support Award for their Multicultural Leadership Day program. Ginther was instrumental in training over 100 4-H interns in partnership with fellow Extension faculty, promoting Extension and Agricultural Education as a highly relevant and successful career path.

Because of his years of experience, he became a 4-H Program Area Liaison mentoring new Educators and helping experienced 4-H faculty and staff across Wisconsin. Ginther served multiple years as the Academic Department Chair for the UW-Extension Department of Youth Development and was Chair of the Committee of Professors for the Youth Development Section of the Department of Extension Faculty. His service to Extension earned him the Distinguished Service Award in 2003 and the Colleague of the Year Award in Colleague Development in 2015. Ginther was also honored with the National 4-H Meritorious Service Award in 2018. Upon retirement, Ginther was named a Professor Emeritus of Youth Development.