March 28, 2024

Walt Glynn to be honored at Union County Fair

Walt Glynn will be honored during the Union County Fair as the county’s 2020 inductee to the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame. Walt is being recognized for his support of Union County 4-H which spans nearly 60 years.

In 1963, as the feed salesman for the newly founded Creston Feed & Grain, Walt Glynn put his experience showing and raising cattle to work in Union County. During one of his sales calls, he came across a young 4-Her fighting to break a tough steer for the county fair. Walt helped take the tough out of that steer, and he has been helping 4-H kids with cattle ever since. Raised in Cass County and active in the 4-H beef project there, Walt developed a deep passion for showing cattle. He fondly remembers the Cass County annual tradition of loading a semitrailer with beef projects and making the trip to the Aksarben Livestock Show in Omaha, Neb., for a week of exhibiting, making friends and having fun.

Since making his home in Union County in 1963, if something has been happening that involves support for 4-H youth livestock projects, particularly beef projects, Walt has been involved. When the idea surfaced for a “Celebrity Beef Show” at the Union County Fair to raise money for grounds improvements, Walt went to work and helped make it happen, recruiting businesses to participate. Once the money was raised, he kept working as a volunteer to complete a new cattle wash rack, pour cement alleys in the beef barns, expand the livestock show ring and make other needed improvements.

As a 4-H parent of four, Walt, along with wife Carol, was leader of the Douglas Boosters 4-H Club for nine years. He also served on the Union County Fair beef committee for approximately 25 years and the Union County Extension Council. He worked alongside Carol when she was a member of the Union County Fair Board. Today, if there is a beef show within driving distance of Creston, Walt is either in the barns coaching or in the stands watching. And sometimes he can be found near the semi load-out with tears in his eyes and an arm around a young shoulder as goodbyes are said. Through the years, many a 4-H kid with a calf has been taken under Walt’s wing. He loves kids and knows that when they work with livestock, they’re learning many valuable lessons and not getting into trouble.

Possibly his most notable, time-consuming and selfless commitment to the 4-H program in Union County has been his support for the livestock auction at the fair. For more than 30 years, Walt has gathered moneys from local businesses and purchased animals on their behalf. Though he hasn’t always gotten the final bid on animals, Walt’s bids have ensured the buyers’ premiums were distributed comparably among all livestock exhibitors, regardless of placement or number of animals sold.

The businessman, cattleman and farmer is a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, Creston Elks and the Union County and Iowa Cattlemen’s Associations. Walt and his late wife Carol have four children, and their family includes Thane and Rachel Glynn of Creston, Matt Glynn of Ankeny, Jodi and Chad Larson of Ankeny, Dirk and Beth Glynn of Carroll and nine grandchildren.

The Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame was initiated in 2002 to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of 4-H.