The familiar 4-H symbol represents the organization’s four foundations: Head, Heart, Hands and Health. In Monroe County, it seems fitting to add a fifth “H” for Hartman.

Joann Hartman, her late husband Kenny Hartman Sr., their children and grandchildren, have all demonstrated a lifelong dedication to the 4-H principles. Saturday, Joann’s contributions were recognized by her induction into the Illinois State 4-H Hall of Fame at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.

At the start of ninth grade in 1951, Joann and her family moved to Waterloo, where she attended and subsequently graduated from Ss. Peter & Paul High School. Proving her skills at fairs were no fluke, she captured a first place award in her first Monroe County Fair that year.

Joann told how she and her husband Kenny, later took up leadership roles together to establish a new 4-H group that met in their basement. She started to list young members, whose names read like a “who’s who” of Monroe County over the past half century, but halted quickly.

“I don’t want to forget someone and make them feel bad,” she explained.

But needless to say, that group took in the Hartmans’ teachings about citizenship, leadership, responsibility and life skills and became leaders in the community’s business, farming and government activities.

“Many of those then-youngsters are my dearest friends today,” Joann said.  “We were 20 then, and the young people were 10 or so — so much younger.  But today the 10-year differences are meaningless.”

They just tried to do good things for the young people, she said. That included teaching them how to present themselves well, including public speaking.

“4-H taught me how to get up in front of people, and I thought that was important to carry forward,” she said.

Hartman’s office walls are covered with documents and plaques recognizing her life’s accomplishments.

She was the first woman  to serve on the Illinois and National Holstein Association Boards. She was the first – and to date in 130 years, the only – woman president of the National Holstein Association.  And she was named the World Dairy Exposition Dairy Woman of the Year in 1997.

Closer to home, Hartman still serves in multiple ways.  She is president of the Soil and Water Conservation Board, as well as chairman of the Council 12 Land Use Committee of a five-county area.

Her Monroe County Fair involvement that began when she was in high school has continued with service as co-superintendent, along with Mark Kern, of the dairy department.

Hartman said she doesn’t want people to think she is bragging or controlling.

“I just somewhere, somehow, seem to get involved,” she said.  “I know some think I have just had a lot of time. But I have led a farm life. I have put in hours behind the wheel of a tractor and milking dozens of cows.”

Pausing, Hartman summarized: “I don’t simply have a lot of time. Instead, I make time to get involved with what I think is important.”

In addition to her work with committees and community events like the fair, Hartman continues active work with the family farm.

“There’s a lot of paperwork and business requirements that I support Kenny Jr. with so he can focus on farming,” she said.

And her engagement with national organizations is ongoing as well. She is currently finishing up final work as financial chairman of the 2015 National Holstein Association Convention held this year in St. Charles.

“I just got two more bills this week,” she said, looking over her shoulder toward an in-basket.

When Hartman was inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame, she joined a key group of other Monroe County inductees, including Arlin Obst, Don Schrader, George Obernagel, Richard Woodcock, Lisa Schwarze, Curt Sondag, Debby Eckart, Edd Kueker and Bernadette Gregson.

The motto of the 4-H is “To Make the Best Better.” It’s slogan is “Learn by Doing.”  Joann Hartman has lived by and embodies – and still exudes – these principles and ways of doing things, teaching young people to live and serve better – and to move forward always.

She and the 4-H have made a positive and crucial difference in Monroe County.