Former Associate 4-H Extension Leader Francis Mansue Inducted into National 4-H Hall of Fame

Francis Mansue, former county 4-H agent and associate 4-H extension leader, will be inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame's Class of 2012 during a special ceremony on October 12 at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

"Fran Mansue touched the lives of many people in New Jersey, from his colleagues in the 4-H Department of Youth Development to thousands of 4-H volunteers and members throughout the state," said Jeannette Rea-Keywood, Cumberland County 4-H agent and chair of the New Jersey 4-H Communications, Marketing and Promotion Committee.

“It is very fitting for Francis Mansue to be inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame during the time we're celebrating National 4-H Week from October 7-13,” said Ginny Powell, chair of the 4-H Department of Youth Development at Rutgers. “We are very proud to have another New Jersey representative join the laureates of the National 4-H Hall of Fame.”

Mansue was a county 4-H agent for 18 years and was well respected by clientele and colleagues alike for his work in both Passaic and Ocean counties. While serving as the State 4-H Department Chair in the early 1970’s, he had the foresight to position the New Jersey 4-H Program to do more work in urban communities in the state. He obtained a grant to establish a first-of-its-kind, inner-city 4-H program in Newark, NJ.

In 1943, Mansue earned a bachelor’s of science degree in agriculture from Rutgers University. After serving in the U.S. Army for 4 years, he started his 4-H Cooperative Extension career in 1946 as the Passaic County 4-H Agent. He spent 6 years in that position before serving as the 4-H Agent in Ocean County for 12 years. He become the Associate 4-H Extension Leader for the College of Agriculture & Environmental Science in 1964.

Mansue served as chair of the 4-H Department for Rutgers Cooperative Extension from 1973 until retiring in 1978, capping over 32 years of service to the New Jersey 4-H Youth Development Program. Following his retirement, Mansue continued to be involved in 4-H activities, establishing the New Jersey 4-H Development Fund and serving on a part-time basis as its Acting Executive Director.

He was an active member of the state and national 4-H associations. His service to Cooperative Extension and 4-H on a national level included a stint as president of the National Association of 4-H Extension Agents and chair of the Professional Improvement Committee. He was also an active member of Epsilon Sigma Phi, Alpha Xi Chapter and the Alpha Zeta National Agricultural Fraternity.

The National 4-H Hall of Fame was created in 2002 as a 4-H Centennial project to recognize and celebrate those people who have made a significant impact on 4-H and its millions of members over more than 100 years. 4-H programs in every state, U.S. territory and the District of Columbia nominate outstanding individuals for this honor. In addition, 4-H's three national partners, the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents, the National 4-H Council and the National 4-H Headquarters at National Institute of Food and Agriculture, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture also nominate individuals.

In New Jersey, the 4-H Youth Development Program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station is headquartered at the Rutgers University campus in New Brunswick. 4-H is supported by federal, state and county funding, private grants and donations. 4-H programs are open to all youth in grades K-13 (one year out of high school) on an age appropriate basis, regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

For more information, visit the Rutgers New Jersey 4-H Department of Youth Development.