BY MARIA CHILDS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
This year, Rock Springs Ranch celebrates 80 years as the home of Kansas 4-H summer camp. Few know this legacy better than Richard McGehee and Marylen Anderson, two of the very first campers in 1946. These longtime supporters continue to invest in the next generation through generous philanthropic gifts.
Richard McGehee, a Riley County 4-H alumnus, vividly recalls the excitement and simplicity of that first summer camp. “There were about 50 of us,” he remembers. “We loaded into the back of a truck in Manhattan and headed south. It was hot and dry, and we slept in tents with bunk beds inside.”
Even the small moments have stayed with him. The water wheel, the craft workshop where he made a leather belt, and the evening talks with friendly reminders to campers to wear deodorant. For Richard, 4-H camp was more than just an event; it was a formative experience that taught him self-reliance and how to think carefully about his actions.
From Saline County, Marylen Anderson also joined the inaugural group of campers. She fondly recalls swimming and the camaraderie of 44 campers sleeping in tents on the hill. “We learned to be self-sufficient and appreciate the philosophy of gratitude while doing things for the benefit of others,” she said.
Marylen’s 4-H journey was marked by impressive accomplishments, including winning grand champion in sewing and representing Kansas in the International 4-H Youth Exchange program in Sweden. These experiences instilled values of independence, responsibility, and gratitude that have stayed with her throughout her life.
Together with her husband, Richard Anderson, a VA dentist and fellow supporter, they have given back to Kansas 4-H and Rock Springs Ranch for over 20 years. “We admire and respect how the funds are used,” Marylen explains. “It’s of great value to youth across Kansas.”
Richard and Marylen’s stories are reminders that Rock Springs Ranch is more than just a summer camp; it’s a foundation for leadership and community that will impact youth well into the future.
“Philanthropic support of Kansas 4-H alumni and friends ensures that Kansas youth continue to benefit from the same values and experiences that shaped 4-H members like Richard McGehee and Marylen Anderson decades ago,” said Mindy R. Weixelman, President/CEO of the Kansas 4-H Foundation. “As Rock Springs Ranch celebrates its 80th anniversary, the commitment of these generous donors inspires us all to give back, to connect, and to foster the next generation of Kansas leaders.”Marylen and Richard Anderson