Londesborough's Bergsma honoured with 4-H Ontario Arbor Award

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

Darrell Bergsma from the Londesborough area is one of two recipients of the 2024 4-H Ontario Arbor Award, which is the provincial organization’s highest honour.

 

Bergsma was honoured for his many years of service to the Huron 4-H Association at the 4-H Ontario Arbor Awards banquet on March 23. He was joined by friends, members of his family and fellow 4-H volunteers for the evening. Typically, three winners are announced every year, however, with the judges unable to decide on a third winner from two candidates, they opted to award just Bergsma and Suzanne Barker of the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton 4-H Association.

 

“Established in 2001 during the International Year of the Volunteer, the 4-H Ontario Arbor Award recognizes a select group of 4-H Ontario volunteers who have served the organization for over 10 years and have positively impacted 4-H and their local community,” reads a press release from 4-H Ontario announcing this year’s winners. “This is 4-H Ontario’s most prestigious volunteer award.”

 

Bergsma is just the fourth Huron County member to receive the award, following in the footsteps of Pat Saundercock, who won in 2003, Don Dodds, who won in 2006, and Florence Pullen, who won in 2009.

 

He has been with the local association for 23 years, during which time he has served as both the president and the association representative (AR), in addition to serving on the Provincial Board of Directors. The press release also notes Bergsma’s involvement in the club’s annual e-recycling day, while helping with the Huron swine club and volunteering provincially at the Impact Conference, Discovery Days and as a camp facilitator.

 

“Darrell uses his head when making decisions to improve programming; his heart is full of passion for the program, he is not afraid to get his hands dirty to make progress and the community benefits healthwise from his commitment,” said Huron County 4-H Association President Sarah Shapton in the press release.

 

Bergsma’s work with the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association was also noted in his application, submitted by the Huron County 4-H Association. Bergsma has been a member of the Threshers’ board of directors for many years.
“Darrell is a shining example of an ideal community member and volunteer,” said Threshers’ Vice-President Laura McDonald in the press release. “He is committed, hard-working, driven and a devoted volunteer that we are proud to have as part of our organization.”

 

Bergsma and Barker were both lauded by members of the provincial organization in the press release. 

 

“As in past years, the 2024 4-H Ontario Arbor Award recipients have given many years of valuable service to 4-H in their respective communities,” said Megan Burnside-Poitras, a volunteer and database manager with 4-H Ontario. “The impact that each of these individuals has had on the lives of volunteers and youth around them is significant and their contributions serve as an outstanding example of what it means to truly embrace volunteerism within the 4-H program.”

 

Christine Oldfield, an executive director with 4-H Ontario, also had some kind things to say about this year’s winners. 

 

“All 4-H volunteers give so much of their time and expertise and have truly helped our organization become what it is today - one of the top youth-servicing programs in the world,” Oldfield said in the press release. “That’s why we are always happy to celebrate our volunteers - especially those that have gone above and beyond for many years. We are pleased to honour both Suzanne and Darrell for their incredible commitments by presenting each of them the Arbor Award.”

 

In an interview with The Citizen, Bergsma said he was very surprised to hear he had been chosen for this award. Furthermore, he said he was tremendously honoured to be counted among the likes of Saundercock, Pullen and Dodds. He has always considered Dodds to be somewhat of a mentor in regards to all things 4-H. This will be Dodds’ 65th year volunteering with the organization and Bergsma says that while he’s not quite there yet, he is approaching his 25th year, which is certainly a milestone worth celebrating.

 

Bergsma says that working with the kids, seeing them grow up into adults with the 4-H skills they’ve learned in tow, has been among the most rewarding aspects of his time with 4-H. He’s also made lifelong friendships through the organization, which is something that keeps him coming back year after year.

 

From the Huron County 4-H Association, Holly Holyoake and Reg Vinnicombe penned letters of support, while the aforementioned McDonald wrote a letter of support from the Threshers.

 

In the press release, Bergsma detailed just how important 4-H has been to him in his life. 

 

“To me, 4-H is so much more than just ‘Head, Heart, Hands and Health’ - 4-H is family. 4-H has played a big part in who I am today and has helped me learn that I can lead and facilitate groups well - it has taught me many skills and talents I didn’t know I had,” Bergsma said in the press release. “4-H has many meanings for different people, but to me, it means a lifetime of memories that I will never forget.”