Elbert County Fair - Kiowa, Colorado

2009 ECF Parade Marshall - Betty Hood

The Elbert County Fair Board is honored have Betty Hood of Kiowa as the 2009 Parade Marshall. Betty started her 4-H career in Oklahoma, where she was a ten-year 4-H member. She moved to Colorado in the 1960's and taught school in various districts before settling in Kiowa. Betty has been a 4-H Leader in Elbert County for over 40 years. Most of those years have been spent as the Main Leader for the Kiowa Community 4-H Club. Under her guidance, the Kiowa Community 4-H Club has been involved in many community service projects such as Highway Clean-Up; Senior Citizens’ Parties; Valentines for Children’s Hospital; Bags for Bosnia; concessions at various community functions;
bake sales; donations for the New York Relief Effort; Fair Grounds
improvement projects; and building a Living Snow Fence in conjunction with the Soil Conservation Service. Betty always encourages her members to "Make the Best Better". As a project leader, Betty has spent numerous hours helping members with
such projects as clothing, cooking, and gardening, to name a few.

Betty also serves the rest of the 4-H in Elbert County. She has been the Secretary/Treasurer for the Elbert County 4-H Leader's Council for about 40 years. She has been instrumental in the success of the Annual Elbert County 4-H Leaders’ Council Silent Auction at which thousands of dollars are raised each year for the Scholarship Fund. Betty Hood was voted the Partner in 4-H Award by the Elbert County 4-H Leader's Council. She received this award because of her devotion to ALL the members of 4-H in Elbert County. Betty has also received the Special Recognition Award for service by the Elbert County 4-H Youth Council. Due in large part to
her efforts towards the growth and success of the Kiowa Community 4-H Club, Betty was awarded the Colorado Outstanding 4-H Leader Award in 1993.

Betty raised three children in the Elbert County 4-H program. Larry, Leona, and Larissa were all ten-year members in the Kiowa Community 4-H Club. Even though her own children have finished their 4-H years, Betty still continues her strong leadership in the county. Betty has served as a Superintendent at the Elbert County Fair for many years.

Betty retired from the Kiowa School District in 2005 where she had taught since 1973. She remains an active member of the KPTCC (Kiowa PTA), where she has served since 1968. Betty served as part of the Sunday School program for over 20 years at the Kiowa Creek Community Church and has been the recipient of the Outstanding Church Educator Award. She continues to play the piano every Sunday as she has for over 35 years. She steals the show with her humorous character roles in the annual church melodrama. Betty’s community service also extends to the Town of Kiowa where she has served on the Town Board since 1997.

In spite of the many years of service Betty has provided to her community and the many honors she has been awarded, Betty never "rests on her laurels". When asked why she continues to serve Betty replied “It keeps me going! No rocking chair for me!” Hundreds of youth in Elbert County have had their lives enriched because of Betty's hard work. Thank you Betty!!!