A Foothills man has been recognized for his years of dedication to the agricultural organization he holds dear.
Chuck Groeneveld received an award for his support of 4-H in Alberta just weeks after his 80th birthday. It’s one of several accolades he’s accumulated over the years, including being inducted into the Simmental Association hall of fame and receiving the Calgary Stampede Western Legacy Award in 2015.
“I got a plaque from the 4-H operate in Calgary for thanks for supporting and spending time with the kids,” said Groeneveld. “It’s a picture of a little wee guy leading a calf. Now the calf’s the little guy and I’m the big guy.”
He was also recognized years ago for 32 years as a 4-H leader with the Gladys Ridge club, which Groeneveld said was the best job he ever had.
“I did it for kids and myself. You’ve got to be a little selfish,” he said.
Groeneveld got his first calf in 1944 and his first Stampede champion came in 1949. He’s seen 4-H go through a lot of changes as it evolved through decades of youth.
“Our family alone has gone through about three changes of colours and emblems,” said Groeneveld. “It was a junior steer show before it was 4-H.”
Though 4-H clubs tend to have an animal theme, Groeneveld said to him Gladys Beef has always been less about the calves and more about the people and the experiences gained.
“You get new people, you can make friends forever, and I don’t know if you make an enemy, they don’t show up if you did,” said Groeneveld. “The whole ball of wax is work and teamwork together, and if you don’t have that you don’t have anything.”
Through his years of service, Groeneveld has taken on many positions with 4-H, including sitting on the first council in Edmonton as a youngster and as a show judge. He took over as leader of the Gladys Ridge club when he was just 19 years old.
There have been many highlights for him over the years, but Groeneveld said one of his favourite memories was of a child who suffered from epilepsy showing his calf at a show. He was named champion that year, and went on in the cattle business for 40 years afterward.
“That’s one that sticks with me, because we had the decision to make, and we did that for him,” said Groeneveld.
Groeneveld continued to judge shows across Canada, and had the opportunity to visit Switzerland and milk a Simmental cow before they were common in Canada.
It’s all a testament to what 4-H can do for a person, and the positive effect it can have on a child’s life, he said.
“Travelling and going, spreading good will for kids and good cattle, that’s kind of what I gained and I’ve been doing it ever since,” said Groeneveld.
4-H can also develop valuable skills like public speaking, he said. In fact, the Gladys Ridge club was one of the first to introduce the public speaking competition element, he said.
“There was a guy who lived in High River, and he went to Edmonton and said he needed a club with the oldest members and the most of them, to try something out with them,” said Groeneveld.
His Gladys Ridge club boasted 36 members who were 16 years old at the time, so they were chosen as a test group for public speaking, he said.
Some of the members became pretty good public speakers under his watch, he said.
He said a future public speaking champ is coming up through the family – his brother’s granddaughter has been running a lemonade stand at calf shows and the six-year-old can convince anyone to buy her wares, he said.
“I always say all the kids in Alberta better back off the year she starts public speaking, because nobody else is going to beat her,” said Groeneveld.
The organization has been an important part of his life, and Groeneveld said he’s grateful for the opportunities it’s afforded him.
It’s also stayed in the family – grandkids are showing cattle in Independence, Iowa and Australia, and his daughter is involved as a 4-H leader in Edmonton, he said.
He’s proud to see the tradition carry on.
“You get involved with these kids, and it’s just great,” said Groeneveld. “Being able to be involved with 4-H and on judging teams and that, that to me is how far you can go with it.
“It’s all for the kids, and that always makes the work worthwhile.”
