4-H Hall of Fame
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Laura Caffey
Nominated by: Bob Pate - Bernalillo Co.
Inducted in: 2008
Helen Candelaria
Nominated by: Kornucopia 4-H Club
Inducted in: 2006
"Helen Candelaria of San Juan County Helen Candelaria has dedicated her life to raising her children and grand child in the San Juan County 4-H Program and in doing so has touched the lives of countless other youth. She has been an organizational leader, assistant leader, and project leader for over 27 years. With an emphasis on homemaking skills and leadership, she took special care that youth learn life skills they could use throughout their lifetime. Thousands of hours were spent fundraising, driving, and chaperoning for delegations to out of county activities, including Citizenship Washington Focus, State 4-H Conference and District Contests. Ms. Candelaria's dedication to 4-H youth in San Juan County has been endless. She was an inspiration for many youth to achieve success as lawyers, teachers, homemakers, welders, mechanics, carpenters, oil field workers and computer experts. Thank you, Mrs. Candelaria.
Ida Walter Carsten
Nominated by: Hidalgo County
Inducted in: 2002
A 22-year veteran of the Cotton City 4-H Club, Ida Walter Carsten has helped the young people in her area prepare for careers in home economics and family and consumer sciences. This progressive veteran has worked with many 4-H'ers over the years to improve their skills in cooking, sewing and demonstrations. She's also made time in her schedule to serve as clothing superintendent for the Hidalgo County Fair.
Tom & Norma Cecil
Nominated by: Colfax County Extension Office
Inducted in: 2004
Francis Chambliss
Nominated by: Floyd McAlister
Inducted in: 2005
Frances served as leader of the Valley 4-H Club in Roosevelt County for more than 20 years. Under her leadership, members were very active in county and state 4-H events. Frances helped many 4-H'ers complete record books to earn trips to the National 4-H Congress, including her daughter. Each year, her club members and their families celebrated the year with a trip to ski or fish. Frances has seen several members in her club become Extension agents and 4-H club leaders.
Carolyn Chance
Nominated by: Lea County Extension Office
Inducted in: 2004
Wayne Chenault
Nominated by: Johnny Ogden - Roosevelt County
Inducted in: 2003
Jackie Clark
Jackie Clark of Roosevelt County
Inducted in: 2011
Jackie grew up in Roosevelt County and she and her husband raised their family in the Floyd community. She served as leader for the Floyd 4-H club for numerous years. Jackie served as the Roosevelt County Extension Office Administrative Secretary for 25 years. One of her loves was the Roosevelt County Fair and she worked on the it all year long to ensure that it was a great community event for 4-H members and fair attendees. Jackie was instrumental in revitalizing the Floyd Achievement Day for 4-H and FFA members giving the members an opportunity to learn more about showing their animals. As the face of the Roosevelt County Extension Office, Jackie always had a welcoming smile, answers to questions or directions to the correct source of information. The importance of each 4-H member, leader, and family were always on Jackie's mind, as well as ideas to improve the program. Jackie Clark's efforts and dedication to the 4-H program and Cooperative Extension run deep. Jackie is very deserving of the honor of being placed in the New Mexico 4-H Hall of Fame.
Connie Collis
Nominated by: Sandoval County 4-H'ers and Volunteer
Inducted in: 2004
Joyce Cone
Nominated by: Roosevelt County Extension Service
Inducted in: 2022
Joyce Mullins Cone grew up in a 4-H family. In 1975, she became leader of the Valley 4-H Club. She was a charter member of the Roosevelt County Livestock Sale Committee, served on the fair board for many years and wrote the grant that funded the pavilion for the Roosevelt County fairgrounds. She started the Jingle Belle Classic, the largest steer/heifer jackpot in New Mexico. There is so much more that could be written about the endless contributions Joyce has made to 4-H program and her enduring impact on and love for the 4-H program and its members.
Maryellen Connor
Nominated by: State 4-H Office
Inducted in: 2002
For more than 13 years Maryellen Connor was the friendly, helpful face of the state 4-H office at NMSU. As a staff member she helped six 4-H department heads, but her true calling lay in working with senior 4-H'ers, helping them with everything from record books to travel plans. The West Virginia native will be fondly remembered for her years of dedication and service. Maryellen, who retired in 1992, truly made the best better.
Geraldine "Gerry" Copeland
Geraldine "Gerry" Copeland of Bernalillo County
Inducted in: 2012
Gerry Copeland's work as a 4-H volunteer has resulted in 30 years of service to 4-H. As well as one of the organizing leaders, Mrs. Copeland was project leader for dog, public speaking several others. She attended and coached teams to National 4-H contests. She started the County Ambassador's program in Bernalillo County and spearheaded its organization and training activities for several years. She also took a lead role in establishing the Bernalillo County Leader's Association,and the NM State Leader's Association, organizing annual meetings and taking a large role in planning the Western Regional Leader's Association meeting in Albuquerque in 1996, also supporting the conference in 2010. She continues to serve on the 4-H Advisory Committee in Bernalillo County. With Gerry Copeland, you find a solid, committed individual who sees beyond her own recognition or accolades to insure that 4-H'ers and leaders across the state have the opportunity to learn new skills. She is not only good at this work, she is exemplary and we welcome her into the New Mexico 4-H Hall of Fame. Thank you, Mrs. Copeland.
Berniece Coriz
Berniece Coriz, Rio Arriba County
Inducted In: 2013
Berniece Coriz is a great person and a great contributor to the 4-H Program. She is an avid philanthropist to positive youth development. Her longtime experience with teaching and education is a valued asset to the New Mexico 4-H Youth Development Program. Ms. Coriz takes an active role in insuring her 4-H members have as many opportunities to gain life skills as possible. She began her 4-H venture as a 4-H parent and grew into the role of club leader, serving as the club leader for the Bobcats 4-H Club for the past 17 years. While her own children are now grown, Ms. Coriz is still dedicated to 4-H. She has served on the New Mexico State Leaders Association for multiple terms. She continues to be a great example of a club leader, County 4-H Council Advisor and Project leader. Ms. Coriz has also served as a presenter at the New Mexico 4-H Adult Forum, sharing her expertise with leaders from all over New Mexico. In recognition of her dedication to the program, we welcome Berniece Coriz into the New Mexico 4-H Hall of Fame.
Brent and Bernice Cosner
Brent and Bernice Cosner of Quay County
Inducted in: 2011
Brent and Bernice Cosner were very active leaders in the Quay County 4-H program as their sons were growing up. They were co-leaders of the S-J club 50 years ago. Their club focused on Public Speaking and Parliamentary Procedure and service to the community. The youth gained these skills, as many of them grew up to take on leadership roles in their communities and some are continuing to serve during retirement. Mr. Cosner was a livestock rancher and trained the 4-H'ers in Livestock judging and Mrs. Cosner worked with the girls on their sewing. She is an accomplished artist and was able to use her talents in many ways to help the girls. Quay County 4-H was fortunate to have these wonderful leaders working with the youth for 15 to 20 years.
Craig and Linda Cosner
Craig and Linda Cosner of Quay County
Inducted in: 2011
Mr. Cosner was the voice of the Quay County 4-H Rodeo for almost 30 years. He served as announcer and a vital member of the planning board for the rodeo and State 4-H Horse Show. In his role as bank president, he made sure 4-H was supported in Quay County and other counties where he oversaw banks. As a 4-H leader, Mr. Cosner worked with 4-H'ers in Public Speaking and Parliamentary Procedure. Mr. Cosner has served on numerous boards around the state and according to his mother uses the many skills he learned as a 4-Her in his work. Mrs. Cosner was an Elementary Teacher and very active leader in the Cockleburrs 4-H Club. She worked with members on demonstrations, club scrapbook and helped new parents learn about 4-H. Mrs. Cosner is a behind the scenes worker who diligently does what is needed without being asked. She is always a willing judge for many of our 4-H contests and assists other organizations in the community now that her daughter has completed her 4-H career.
Nona Cottrell
Nominated by: Lilly Pritchard - Taos Co.
Inducted in: 2008
Bobby and Vickie Cox
Bobby and Vickie Cox of Lea County
Inducted in 2009
Bobby and Vickie Cox started with the 4-H program in 1979 when their children began showing pigs. In 1981 they officially became leaders with the Monument 4-H Club in Monument, Lea County. Throughout the last 30 years, Mr. and Mrs. Cox have mentored many young 4-H families and helped many of them each year with their 4-H projects. Mrs. Cox has been instrumental in helping these young members complete their goals and record books for year-end awards. Mr. Cox volunteered as the assistant, then as swine superintendant at the Lea County Fair from 1984 to 1993. He continues to help kids interested in showing pigs to purchase, feed and fit their animals throughout the year in Lea County and has become a great resource for his grandchildren and their friends in Lincoln County, by taking them to pig farms across Southeastern NM and West Texas, giving feeding advice and attending all the fairs to advise in fitting the pigs for the show. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have been instrumental in teaching young members and their parents how to get started in the 4-H program, helped them accelerate a competitive livestock project and continue to have mentor relationships with many of them as adults.
Rachel Cunningham
Nominated by: Gloria Brooks
Inducted in: 2019
Rachel Cunningham earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree at the age of 20. She taught Home Economics in Wagon Mound, served as the home management supervisor with the Farmers Home Administration in Las Vegas and worked as a field nutritionist with the NM Department of Health. She began employment with the NMSU Extension Service in 1948 where she served as the Santa Fe County Home Demonstration Agent until her retirement in 1975. A newspaper article reports that during the first 12 years of her service, she established eight adult Extension Clubs with more than 100 members and twenty-four 4-H Clubs with more than 500 members.
As a mother, she ensured her children were active in 4-H. All Santa Fe County 4-H members were encouraged to complete their projects and to go beyond project requirements. She encouraged 4-H’ers to make a positive difference to others.
Following retirement, Mrs. Cunningham continued her commitment to 4-H youth and Extension adults by judging at County and State Fairs. She was a pioneer and visionary. Her work with numerous Extension and 4-H clubs across the county was exemplary and her life’s work had an impact on more people than we can imagine. We are grateful for Mrs. Cunningham’s dedication to 4-H and welcome her to the New Mexico 4-H Hall of Fame.