DARKE COUNTY – This year marks 50 years of an outstanding individual who has continued his service to the Darke County 4-H Program.
Tim Rhoades has been an advisor and volunteer for 50 years and is the first name in Darke County to have held this prestigious honor in recent years. He was presented this year as a recipient of the ‘Friend of 4-H.’ Rhoades was also recognized at the Ohio 4-H Conference in 2024.
“This award couldn’t go to a more deserving person. Loyalty is the word that comes to my mind first and foremost! His loyalty to 4-H, to our 4-H club, and to our fairgrounds is immeasurable. 50 years is an enormous amount of time and dedication given as a volunteer. His heart is as genuine as they come, and his experience is measureless. Imagine the amount of children’s lives he has been a part of. So proud to call him my uncle and to have been mentored for over 30 years by him through it all. We thank Tim for his dedication to the 4-H program and the youth in our county.”
Rhoades became a 4-H advisor the year after he was out of 4-H and FFA and began his journey of advising and volunteering in the 4-H Program.
“I learned a lot of respect and inspiration from my fellow longtime advisor, Bob Finkbine,” said Rhoades. “Those years made me appreciate the qualities that 4-H provides for our youth. The leadership skills, the responsibilities the kids endure, and the friendships they make are only a few of the things that come out of 4-H.”
Rhoades explained that he has enjoyed watching his daughters grow and flourish in the program and now his grandkids. He continued sharing that their love for 4-H is strong and their favorite time of year is undoubtedly the Great Darke County Fair.
“There’s been some great years and lots of memories. Like anything else there may have been a few years that were more challenging than others, but l’ve always said, “I do it for the kids, they are #1”. “And if a change benefits, the kids, l’ll go to bat for it, but if it doesn’t benefit the kid and it’s only for self gain-I play great defense.”
During Rhoades’s time as an advisor, he has touched many lives and has helped many youths and even other volunteers and advisors throughout the years.
“When I think of a definition of a 4-H advisor Tim Rhoades comes to my mind. I was a member of the Darke County 4-H Beef Club for 10 years. I always knew that Tim was there. Especially when I was in the ring with a 1200-pound steer. He has been such a great role model to me and so many kids in Darke County. Tim truly knows the meaning of the 4-H pledge: head, heart, hands, and health. It has made such a great impact on my life, and that’s why my kids are also a part of the Darke County 4-H Beef Club,” shared Amy Addis.
“We’ve also had some great advisors in our club through the years and we worked so well as a team. I would never trade my 50 years for anything and I plan on doing so as long as I can.”
The 4-H Motto is simply ‘To Make The Best Better,’ which means to encourage youth to grow and learn as much as they can. Rhoades has made a career of living up to this motto and continues to do so.
