Bequest gives boost to 4-H project

By Letha Kuecker/Contributor

In 2005, the Walworth County 4-H Senior Leaders' Association pledged $20,000 to be paid over a three-year period for the proposed exhibition building to be built on the Walworth County fairgrounds.

As of mid-June, 2008, the group had raised about $17,500 and hoped to reach their goal before this year's fair.

Members of Walworth 4-H decided to help the Senior Leaders fulfill their pledge. On Tuesday, Samantha Wrzesinski, president of Walworth 4-H, presented a check for $3,000 to the Senior Leaders in honor of former general leader Ralph Bischner. Walworth 4-H received a bequest from the estate of Bischner and chose to give a portion of it to the Senior Leaders.

Mr. Bischner served as a general leader of Walworth-Sharon 4-H, starting in 1950. He worked with a variety of activities and helped the club organize one of the first rural-urban youth exchanges in the county in 1958.

Young people from Chicago visited club members in the summer and Walworth-Sharon members spent a day in Chicago during the fall. When the club split into two separate clubs, Bischner remained with the Walworth Club, retiring in 1981. He was active as a member or leader in the club for 37 years.

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