When four generations of the Alpers family of Stafford County began talking about a way to honor the memory of their patriarch and matriarch, two factors immediately came into play.

Those factors were the value of 4-H participation and education.

The result is the Clarence and Vera Alpers Stafford County 4-H Scholarship, which recently was established at the Golden Belt Community Foundation.

“Mom and Dad were 4-H leaders all down the line,” said Marion Alpers of Hudson. “They did everything in 4-H throughout their lives. They had three sons and wanted to help them, as well as other Stafford County families.

“They were always interested in young people,” Marion continued. “Every generation of our family has learned the value of 4-H. We all thought this scholarship would be a good way to honor Mom and Dad and encourage others to get involved in the organization they loved so much.”

Juanita Alpers, Marion’s wife, both 88, noted Clarence taught in a one-room schoolhouse and farmed the family homestead. Again, she noted, the family’s focus was on education and agriculture.

When 4-H started, the emphasis was on farming and livestock but it has blossomed over the years to include a long list of activities.

“You could sum it up by saying 4-H teaches life skills,” Juanita explained. “We hope the scholarship raises 4-H awareness and we encourage other families to donate to this fund. It is an endowed scholarship, which means it will be here for generations to come.

“Clarence and Vera would be proud of their descendants who are in 4-H. And they would be so happy they can help the current younger generation and even people who haven’t been born yet. They would be honored to be remembered in this way.”

Barb Alpers, Marion and Juanita’s daughter-in-law, noted that 4-H leads to a “lifetime of memories and forever friends.”

In addition to everything pertaining to agriculture and livestock, 4-H projects zero in on: how to conduct a meeting; nutrition; budgeting; photography; sewing; leadership skills; public speaking; a solid work ethic; accountability; geology; and numerous other topics.

Barb made special mention of 4-H lessons on baking and cooking in light of the global pandemic.

“We have seen many people going back to the basics of preparing food at home,” she pointed out. “People are learning that convenience isn’t a need; it is a want.”

To illustrate her point, Stafford County Flour Mill “has been selling flour like crazy.”

Barb is married to Kevin, who is Marion and Juanita’s son. Janell Foote is their daughter; her husband is Reuel Foote. All live in Hudson. Marion and Juanita have five grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Clarence passed away in 1990 and Vera in 1969.