All week long on SusanvilleStuff, in celebration of National 4-H Week, we will be featuring this year’s six inductees into the Lassen County 4-H Hall of Fame.
by Lily Ammon and Maddi Johnson
Lassen 4-H Ambassadors
Have you ever met someone and thought – this is the person they modeled the Energizer Bunny from? Sally Dilts never says no when it’s a project that benefits local children and young adults!
Sally began her journey with the Round Valley 4-H Club in Covelo, CA in 1962. She remained a member from then until she graduated eighth grade and joined Covelo FFA.
While in 4-H she showed Registered Hampshire Sheep. After graduating from High School in 1972 Sally immediately enrolled as a leader in Round Valley 4-H. Sally started raising project lambs in 1973.
She relocated to Lassen County in 1985 and continued owning and operating a large club lamb operation, with great help from her daughter Jane, until 1995.
She sold several Champion lambs to the Shasta, Butte, Redwood Empire, and Lassen County Fairs. She took great pride in helping kids that were considered “underdogs” often providing financial assistance without any recognition or knowledge by the members.
Sally was a dedicated 4-H mother to all three of her children helping with the beef, sheep, and swine projects. She sewed countless outfits for the Lad and Lassie competition and had many “bonus kids” that found her house as a second home.
The kids that came and helped with chores never left with an empty stomach! She has served for the past decade as the Milford 4-H “Club Nana” often being “voluntold” to help with cooking, sewing, gardening, and any project you can think of! She has been by the side of all five grandchildren through their 4-H adventures.
Have you had the chance to see the square planter right next to the judging pavilion? It’s always in full bloom with the 4-H, FFA and California State flag flying high above during fair week. In 2005 Sally Dilts, Ron Barnes and the California Correctional Center Landscape Operations were awarded the Western Fairs Association Blue Ribbon Award for beautification of the fairgrounds after designing, creating and upkeeping this planter (it used to be a water feature until the drought years came).
Sally believes that the 4-H program instills a strong work ethic, ability to follow through with commitments and useful life skills in our youth. She has always said that you can pick a 4-H kid out of a crowd in a job interview any day!
Your service to the youth of Lassen County hasn’t gone without notice. We thank you so very much for all that you have done and continue to do! Welcome to the Lassen County 4-H Hall of Fame Mrs. Dilts!
Photos submitted by: Nickie Dilts
