By Mike Orso
McHenry County’s most senior 4-H club, which strives to prepare northeast Illinois youth to become state “leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, stewards…” and more, celebrates its 100th year in 2026 with several of its members participating in this year’s McHenry County Fair underway this week in Woodstock.
Huntley area farmer William J. Hartman founded the Huntley Harvestors 4-H club in September 1926. The club has been cultivating area youth, ages 5-18, since then and is now led by alumnus Tim Hoeft of Huntley, with over 20 area youths participating.
“It’s not just cows and cooking anymore. There is something in 4-H for everybody,” said Hoeft, who spent more than a decade as a member of the Huntley Harvestors 4-H club. “You can still do the general projects. Obviously, livestock is a big part of 4-H, but there are projects for every interest, from robotics, electricity, woodworking, cooking, interior design, whatever any kid has an interest in.”
The century old Huntley 4-H club has a reputation of living up to the organization’s mission by developing home-grown, local community leaders. Many remain active as 4-H leaders and supporters.
“Several alumni members now hold positions in elected offices or prominent local businesses, demonstrating the leadership skills gained through their membership,” said Michele Aavang-Behrens, 4-H Youth Development Educator for Lake and McHenry Counties. “Today, the club primarily focuses on livestock, giving young people in our increasingly suburban communities the opportunity to experience raising livestock. Through these experiences, members develop confidence, a strong work ethic, and responsibility.”
In fact, Huntley residents elected 4-H club leader Tim Hoeft its Village President in 2021 and reelected him last year. Chuck Ruth, Huntley resident and founder of Alliance Contracting in Woodstock, also grew up participating in the Huntley Harvestors 4-H club and is the grandson of founder William Hartman.
“When they started the Huntley 4-H club, the local ag teacher at the time, Henry Marlowe, was just out of college, just starting (at Huntley High School),” said Ruth, 76. “He helped found it with him.”
Ruth, whose mother Mildred was Hartman’s youngest child, grew up on a Huntley dairy farm. He raised pigs as part of a 4-H project and spent many summers playing 4-H baseball and showing his pigs at the McHenry County Fair. The Huntley 4-H club had up to 60 members when Ruth participated. In addition to farming, his parents founded the famous Huntley Dairy Mart drive-in on the north side of town off Route 47.
“I had a lot of fun in 4-H,” said Ruth. “I was not a very good showman or farmer. I got a lot of white (below average) ribbons.”
Chuck Ruth’s cousin, Judy Corson of Woodstock, is the daughter of Huntley Harvestors founder William Hartman’s oldest child and only son, Henry. Her family also milked cows, but on a farm north of Woodstock.
“I lived with him and took care of him,” said Corson, 84, about her grandfather. “He was a wonderful, wonderful man.”
Corson won several local and state awards for sewing during her participation in the former Hartland Hotshots and Alden Boosters 4-H clubs. She serves as a director on the board of Club Town Inc., the non-profit organization that owns and maintains several of the buildings and land that house 4-H animals at the McHenry County Fair. She founded the county 4-H Ambassador program decades ago and readily shares fond memories of participating in 4-H and the fair.
“My brother always beat me,” said Corson, on her many years of youth participation in junior dairy show competitions at the fair. “I showed dairy there, but then I also did home economics in the Alden Boosters (4-H club).”
You’ll find animals and other projects cared for and created by current Huntley Harvestors and hundreds of other county 4-H club members at this year’s fair, which runs through Sunday, August 9.
“You get to socialize with people and share your experiences,” said Harvestors 4-H club treasurer Colton Reeves, 14, of Huntley. “It’s kind of like a big family. Everybody works together on their animals. It’s really fun.”
“I turned in one painting for visual arts,” said club secretary Charlie Degner, 11, of Huntley. “Then, I’m showing two pigs this year.”
Huntley Harvestors club vice president Brooklyn Lueth has participated in 4-H for a decade. She’ll participate in cattle, pig and sheep showing competitions at the fair and will be a freshman at McHenry County College in two weeks.
“My dad grew up in 4-H and he just always just wanted us to try it,” said Lueth, 17, of Huntley. “I fell in love with it.”
Close to 500 McHenry County youth participated this year in around 40 4-H clubs across the county. Huntley Harvestors 4-H club president Miranda Hoeft wants to spread the word, as enrollment for the 2026-27 4-H year for her club and the others will begin in October.
“I want to help the club be as successful in the community as possible,” said Miranda, daughter of club leader Tim Hoeft. “I want them to know about 4-H and how great a program it is.”
Members of the Huntley Harvestors 4-H club showed up in a big way Sunday, August 2 to prepare to participate in this year’s McHenry County Fair, August 4-9, in Woodstock. “I wouldn’t be where I am in life without the experience and leadership qualities I gained from the 4-H program,” said Tim Hoeft, (far left), Huntley Harvestors leader. “You always have to give back.”
Huntley Harvestors 4-H Club founder William Hartman and his wife Olga enjoy some melon with their five children, who all also eventually farmed or were involved in food and agriculture careers in northern Illinois. They included (center) son Henry (father of Judy Corson, Woodstock), and daughters Florence, Frances, Gyneth, and Mildred (mother of Chuck Ruth, Huntley). (Hartman family photo)
Chuck Ruth, who grew up on a dairy farm near Huntley, and Judy Corson who grew up on one near Woodstock, were both involved in 4-H and continue to support the organization. The two are grandchildren of Huntley Harvestors founder William J. Hartman. Ruth participated in the Huntley Harvestors 4-H club, and Corson participated in the Hartland Hotshots and Alden Boosters 4-H clubs, from age 10 until they went to college.
No, this banner at the McHenry County Fair is not misspelled. “It has always been spelled with the ‘o’ at the end instead of the ‘e,’” said Tim Hoeft, Huntley Harvestors club leader, about how the club moniker is spelled. “When we have stuff printed, it’s kind of funny because they all want to go through spell check and tell me I’m wrong, and I’m like, ‘No, you have to spell it that way because that’s how it is on our charter.’”