Holmes County Honors Adviser After Four Decades of 4 H Service

Marcia Troyer received recognition at the Holmes County 4 H Volunteer Recognition Banquet, where organizers and community members marked her retirement after forty years leading the Doughty Valley 4 H Club near Clark. The award, presented during the Nov. 20 banquet, acknowledged decades of service at county 4 H events and the deep relationships she built through the program.

Troyer has advised generations of young people in Holmes County, guiding projects, county fair participation, and service activities that many families say formed an important part of childhood. Community members praised her steady leadership and the positive impact she had on local 4 H programming, noting that consistent adult mentors are central to sustaining extracurricular opportunities in rural areas.

“This was a very hard decision for me to make to retire,” she said, while noting she intends to remain available to help. Troyer told banquet attendees that stepping away from a role that touched so many families was difficult, but she expressed confidence in the next generation of leaders and advisors taking on the club responsibilities.

The practical effects of her retirement are immediate for families and volunteers who rely on club continuity for event planning, skill development, and mentorship. For parents and youth coordinators, finding and training new advisers will be a near term priority. The system of volunteers that runs 4 H programming depends on institutional memory, and Troyer’s informal availability after retirement may ease the transition for new leaders.

Beyond individual clubs, Troyer’s departure raises broader community health considerations. Youth programs such as 4 H contribute to social connectedness, positive youth development, and opportunities for civic engagement that help reduce isolation and support emotional wellbeing. Maintaining access to these programs is also a matter of equity, ensuring children across Holmes County have comparable chances to build skills and networks regardless of family resources.

Organizers and families said they will continue recruiting volunteers and supporting training to preserve program quality. Troyer’s record of four decades of service sets a standard for community commitment, and her ongoing informal support offers a bridge to sustain the Doughty Valley 4 H Club as new leaders step forward.