A former resident of Dugald has been selected as the first recipient of the 4-H Canada Distinguished Alumni Award.

Elaine Froese grew up on a farm and joined the Dugald 4-H club at the age of nine and immediately dove into home economics and public speaking. She says it is a big honour to be recognized by 4-H Canada but it is also humbling.

“I have been a professional speaker for forty years and a farm family coach for a very long time and so I am just really thankful and grateful to be recognized for the things that I do for farm families,” notes Froese. “A lot of the success that I have had in communication and conflict resolution and mediation has come from a lot of the skills that I learned at the Dugald 4-H club many many years ago.”

Froese says 4-H taught her public speaking and how to think on her feet which are skills that have helped her throughout her schooling and her career.

“I was part of the Dugald Home Economics Club, the leader I remember most is Dorothy James. Mrs. James was my leader and her daughter Caroline and I used to do 4-H demonstrations and I can distinctly remember being on a platform teaching people how to make Tote-bags and the funny things is that I still use props in my professional speaking.”

Froese is being recognized and honoured by 4-H Canada for her achievements in Community Engagement and Communications.