Ila Akkerman strolled past the food stands Friday at the Mower County Fair wearing a 4-H T-shirt she had worn as a leader in the '70s and '80s.

A mother of one of the kids she lead commented on her shirt.

"I couldn't fit into mine anymore!" she exclaimed.

Akkerman had taken the shirt out for the Mower County 2002 4-H Reunion Celebration Friday in honor of 4-H's 100 years of existence. She and her husband, Dale, were nominated for a 4-H Volunteer Award and the Akkerman family was honored for being in 4-H for three generations.

Ila and Dale were 4-H leaders for 14 years while their four kids were in the now-defunct 4-H Ramsey group. Ila said the kids they worked with from 1970 to 1984 were great and so were the parents, like the woman who had stopped her earlier.

"We had wonderful parents that just supported us to death," Ila said.

Ila, Dale, and their older daughter, Jill Demmer, reminisced about 4-H before the program started.

Jill and her siblings, Jack, Jane and Jay entered animals and projects in the county fairs and made it to the state fair.

Jill, who lives near Hartland, recently took a peasant shirt she made in 4-H out of storage for her 15-year-old daughter, Liza, because it is in style again. She also still puts lawn ornaments she made in her garden every year.

Jill's daughters Liza and Hannah, 12, are going to the Minnesota State Fair for the projects in child development and needle art, which they entered in the Freeborn County Fair.

Liza's child development project was an "instant orchestra" -- instruments made from items around the house for children to play. Liza said she enjoys 4-H and it excited to go to the state fair.

"You're very proud when you're done with everything," she said.

Both Ila and Jill said it's sad that the enrollment in 4-H has dropped over the years.

"Kids have so much competition with other things," Jill said. "But it's still a good program."

Ila and Dale's grandson, Kalle Akkerman, entered pigs in the fair for the first time this year. Even though he didn't win, they said it was a good learning experience for him."

"And some years are just that -- a learning experience," Jill said.

"If you get the blue ribbons and the purple ribbons every year, you never learn," Ila added.

Ila still judges 4-H projects and is a charter member of the Adult Volunteer Association, which helps 4-H leaders best teach the children in their groups.

At the program Friday, 19 families were honored for having members in 4-H for three generations and six families were honored having four generations in 4-H.

Diane Stundahl's grandfather, Carlyle Skaar, was the first person in their family to be in 4-H and her family was recognized for being in 4-H for four generations.

One of the biggest changes Stundahl has seen is the variety of projects children can do and the higher number of children who live in town participating.

"There are many more options," Stundahl said.

At the reunion, 4-H alumni could write their name on a timeline to show when they were in 4-H. John and Sharon Grass Jr. were given the Volunteer Award and will go to the Sate Fair for it. 4-H was also presented with the Mower County Fair Organization of the Year Award.

"We look back on 100 years and can't begin to fathom what 4-H has done for out country and our communities," said fair board director Ken Trom before presenting 4-H with the award.

"You can't help but think: what about the next 100 years?"

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto:cari.quam@austindailyherald.com