• Back to Hall of Fame Homepage

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Robert Abercrombie

Nominated by: Sharon Young & Sandy Smith - Grant Co.

Inducted in: 2003

Elmer Allen

Elmer Allen, Harding, Union and McKinley Counties

Inducted In: 2013

Elmer Allen began his 27 year tenure with the New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service in Clayton, New Mexico. As Assistant County Agent, he worked with Union County 4-H Clubs and the County Fair. In 1953 he returned to NMSU as a Graduate Assistant to earn a M.S. degree in Animal Breeding in 1954. He then worked with the Arizona Extension Service in Yuma and Willcox. In 1956 he was appointed County Extension Agent in Harding County, Mosquero, New Mexico. Here he started 4-H Clubs and is remembered as the Father of the Harding County Fair, Horse Show and Livestock Sale. In 1967 he transferred to Zuni Pueblo as Agricultural Extension Agent. There, he initiated the Zuni-McKinley County Fair and helped the Zuni Cattle Association and the Zuni Sheep Association break the traditional barter system and improve their management programs. He also wrote or contributed to a number of Agricultural Extension Service Bulletins, strengthening the research-based knowledge available to 4-H'ers and the agriculture industry. We welcome Mr. Allen into the New Mexico 4-H Hall of Fame. Accepting this award on his behalf is his great nephew, John Allen.

Martha Anderson

Nominated by: New Mexico 4-H Agents Association

Inducted in: 2003

Dempse & Virginia Anderson

Dempse & Virginia Anderson of McKinley & Cibola County

Inducted in 2012

Dempse and Virginia Anderson were 4-H club leaders for many years in McKinley County. Mrs. Anderson was project leader for anything having to do with fabric, making many an outfit for not only her daughter, but for many young ladies who participated in horse show and rodeos. Dempse was project leader in Rodeo, horseshow and livestock. In the late 60s McKinley and Cibola (then Valencia) county 4-H youth had to travel to eastern Valencia County to show and compete in a County Fair. Because of the cost many 4-H youth could not attend. Mr. & Mrs. Anderson with a handful of other parents from both counties got together and thus began Uranium Capitol Bi-County Fair now known as Bi-County Fair! To this day, 4-H youth who want to participate in a County Fair are able to do so. And the livestock sale is one of the best in the State. Even though they are no longer with us, Mr. & Mrs. Anderson continue to be an inspiration to 4-H volunteers and 4-H youth in both McKinley & Cibola Counties. Accepting the award on their behalf is their daughter, Tina Robinson. Thank you, Mrs. Robinson.

Glenda Parrish Anthony

Glenda Parrish Anthony of Roosevelt County

Inducted in 2009

4-H has been a part of Glenda Parrish Anthony's life for over sixty years. Glenda and her sister, joined 4-H when they were too young to remember, but it was always a part of their growing up years. Their mother was the 4-H Leader in the Rogers-Dora area and always kept the members involved. Glenda competed at county, district and state wide activities. In 1956, she attended National 4-H Congress in Chicago on a winning scholarship and in 1958 served as NM 4-H Ambassador. But, this was not the end of Mrs. Anthony's 4-H career. As soon as her children were old enough to join 4-H, they too participated in club, county, district and state activities. Mrs. Anthony served as Elida 4-H Organizational Leader for over 10 years. As a leader, she attended County and State Leadership activities plus attending two National Leadership Conferences. The Elida Club was the envy of the county and the model 4-H Club under Mrs. Anthony's leadership. And today, Mrs. Anthony is still very active in 4-H with her grandchildren. She stays busy helping them with projects, quilt camps and county fairs. You still find Mrs. Anthony and her husband, Ronald, at county, district and state contests, fairs and other activities.

Barbara Arko

Barbara Arko of Colfax County

Inducted in 2012

Barbara Arko has been active in Colfax County 4-H for the past 15 years. She has been the horse project leader and shooting sports leader. Ms. Arko has been instrumental in helping 4-H youth develop public speaking skills, horsemanship skills and citizenship skills through her work with the queen's competition. Ms. Arko has served as a county fair superintendent for rabbits, poultry and goats, working to get these species into the junior livestock sale, as well as serving as superintendent for the 4-H Indoor Exhibits. Mrs. Arko has given tirelessly to the 4-H Program, assisting with county and district contests and chaperoning youth at statewide events. Barbara Arko truly believes in the value of 4-H and it shows in everything she does. Thank You, Mrs. Arko.

Esequiel Armijo

Nominated by: Socorro County

Inducted in: 2002

Esequiel Armijo started 4-H involvement that would span three generations when he began work as the 4-H agent for San Miguel County and, later, as the Socorro County Extension agent. His children experienced the valuable lessons 4-H imparts, and his grandchildren are now 4-H'ers. He touched the lives of many youngsters - some eager, some not so eager - through his patience and persistence and his lifelong commitment to 4-H.

Glenda Armstrong

Nominated by: De Baca County

Inducted in: 2002

Glenda Armstrong has spent almost 40 years sharing her knowledge, talent and time with 4-H members in Dona Ana, Harding and De Baca counties, serving the last 26 years as De Baca County clothing leader. She has been a mentor to at-risk youth, teaching kids to sew and sometimes paying for materials needed to complete their projects. She has passed her love of 4-H on to her children. Her oldest daughter is a 4-H leader, her son worked in the State 4-H office and the National 4-H Center in Washington, D.C., and her youngest daughter is a 4-H agent in Texas.

Dr. Joe B. Armstrong

Dr. Joe B. Armstrong of Dona Ana County

Inducted in 2009

In 1979, out of the darkness of Georgia, came a pretty big man. He came to New Mexico State as a professor and extension horse specialist. During his tenure as an extension horse specialist Dr. Armstrong was instrumental in starting the New Mexico State 4-H Horse School, 2 year-old western pleasure futurity and the 3 year-old versatility programs. Dr. Armstrong and Suzanne Jones took the 4-H horse school program idea to Germany and began similar programs with AQHA and the Deutsche Quarter Horse Association. On top of his job responsibilities he found time to serve his community and raise a family as well. He volunteered as a 4-H leader in Dona Ana County for 17 years, where he coached judging teams and took 4-H members on horse packing trips. Along with his wife Rusty, the wind beneath his wings, they raised Josh, Crissy and Ed in the New Mexico 4-H programs. Dr. Armstrong retired from NMSU in 2000, leaving a legacy for the Horse Program and New Mexico 4-H.

Joe Atkins

Nominated by: Venita Ames, Harding County

Inducted in: 2015

The late Mr. Atkins helped organize the Alamocita 4-H club in the Yates community in 1961. He was a member of the Harding County Fair Board for 15 years, he assisted kids with projects and chaperoned several State Conference trips. He served as a ring steward of the 4-H Horse Show and Livestock Sale, participated in Harding County 4-H events until 1973 when he and his wife, Beth, moved to Missouri. However, Mr. Atkins continued to support the kids in Harding County and he and his wife would return to Roy every first Friday in August to support the youth. For 35 years, he purchased an animal at the livestock sale, which he almost always donated to the Boys and Girls Ranch of New Mexico. Mr. Atkins was a member of New Mexico Cattlegrowers, Northeastern NM Livestock Association, Lions Club, Farm Bureau, Roy Booster Club, NM Mounted Patrol, and the Oklahoma State University Foundation. Joe loved his ranch, the community of Roy, and Harding County and always wanted the best for the young people of the area.