BY MARIA CHILDS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
A meaningful investment in leadership development is taking shape at Rock Springs Ranch, where an existing space is being renovated to better support youth and adult programs.
The existing space, formerly known as the Wiedemann Dining Hall, will reflect the core values of 4-H: head, heart, hands, and health, and this initiative aims to empower participants to learn more about leadership development and apply those skills to their communities. This transformative project is made possible through a generous lead gift from siblings Larry Wittorff and Carolyn Wittorff Jackson, honoring the legacy of their parents, Arnold and Marcelyn Wittorff, and their commitment to positive youth development.
Larry and Carolyn shared their motivation for making this gift, stating, “this space gave us a ‘place and purpose’ to honor the opportunities 4-H gave our family in the Lucky Leaf 4-H Club in McPherson County.”
“We know that we want to give back to 4-H, a program filled with experiences that were so important to our family and foundational to us being real-world ready,” Larry and Carolyn shared.
Their commitment is rooted in a rich family history shaped by 4-H. Larry and Carolyn’s parents’ relationship began during 4-H Roundup in Manhattan, Kansas, and grew into a lifelong partnership. They were married on September 11, 1949, in their hometown of Inman, Kansas, and settled on a Polled Hereford cattle and wheat farm west of Inman in McPherson County. There, they raised Larry and Carolyn in a home filled with values shaped by service, leadership, and community involvement.
Arnold and Marcelyn remained active in 4-H, serving as club and project leaders for the Lucky Leaf 4-H Club. Larry and Carolyn were longtime members and junior leaders, actively involved in numerous projects that led to statewide recognition: Larry in the Beef Project, and Carolyn in Citizenship.
“We learned leadership skills by watching our parents, hearing their conversations, and working alongside them,” the siblings reflected. “That’s the kind of parents we had, and we continue to benefit from their efforts even today. It’s the biggest reason for making this leadership gift in Mom and Dad’s honor.”
Larry added, “Giving reasons at 4-H judging contests gave me the skills and confidence to navigate many situations in life. I used those skills like problem-solving and effective delivery of the facts and my opinions to compare proposals for expanding the computing environment for corporate VPs and, more skillfully answer their questions.”
Larry and Carolyn credit 4-H with developing skills that extend far beyond the fairgrounds: written communication, speechmaking and public speaking, recordkeeping, parliamentary procedure, organizational management, and the ability to build lasting networks.
“The Leadership Initiative at Rock Springs Ranch is designed to create a dedicated space where youth and adults can engage in leadership development, fostering skills that will serve them throughout their lives,” said Mindy R. Weixelman, President/CEO of the Kansas 4-H Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to Carolyn and Larry for their generosity. Their gift not only honors their family’s 4-H legacy, but also ensures future generations will be equipped to lead with confidence, character, and purpose.”