National 4-H Hall of Fame Nomination
In 2002, the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents, National 4-H Council and 4-H National Headquarters partnered to create
the National 4-H Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was established to recognize 4-H volunteers, Extension professionals, staff
employees, donors and others who made a significant impact on 4-H at the local, state or national level. Each Land-grant institution
may annually submit one nomination. The three national partners may submit up to three nominations.
Nominee Information
Name Tamara (Tamie) Koop______________________________________________________________
Title/Position__ Professor Emerita, University of Wisconsin - Extension___________________________
**Relative/contact person if nominee is deceased ___________________________________________
Mailing Address _ N4 W22714 Lexington Dr., Waukesha, WI
53816_________________________________
Place of residence__ Waukesha ___________________________________________________________
Town/City ___ Waukesha ________________________________ State _WI____ Zip _53816________
Telephone __(262) 542-4471_____________ E-mail _tkoop@wi.rr.com____
Nominator Information
Name __Kathleen E. Vos _______________________________ Telephone _608-833-3543___________
Address _413 Walnut Grove Drive_______________________________________
Town/City__ Madison____________________________________ State __WI_ Zip__53717____________
E-mail__kathiv@tds.net_____________________________ Fax # _______________________________
Nomination by: Land-Grant (list) _University of Wisconsin-Extension_________________________ or
NAE4-HA ____ NIFA/4-H National Headquarters ____ National 4-H Council ____
The Selection Committee is primarily interested in learning of the nominee’s significant impacts on 4-H’ers and/or the 4-H program.
The nominee should exhibit outstanding citizenship, leadership, career accomplishments and character. The nomination is limited
to a one-page MS Word document with margins of no less than .5 inch and fonts no smaller than 12 point. Please do not include
photos with the nomination.
Please focus the information on the nominee’s: 1.Citizenship as exemplified by participation in civic, community, state, regional and
national public service related activities evidencing concern for the welfare of others, especially as they relate to 4-H. 2. Leadership
as exemplified by qualities of leadership and acceptance of leadership responsibilities in civic, community, professional and business
related activities that directly or indirectly benefit 4-H. 3. Career Accomplishments as exemplified by accomplishments and success
in his/her chosen career and as a mentor or role model. 4. Character as exemplified by evidence of the influence of 4-H involvement
(if a 4-H alumni or volunteer) in the nominee's life and/or his or her commitment to 4-H. 5. Any other information that would be
beneficial for the selection committee to know.
Mention committed community service volunteer, passionate youth advocate, dedicated peer mentor, someone connected
to both agricultural heritage and urban communities – and it brings to mind Tamara (Tamie) Koop. Tamie has always been
involved in community non-profit organizations that develop and support youth, families and volunteers. She’s a member of
the Waukesha County United Way – serving as a co-chair of the Strengthening Families Impact Panel, which oversees
nearly 30 Waukesha County programs, impacting thousands of children, youth and families. She serves on the Waukesha
County Museum’s Educational Department Advisory Council. She is an ad hoc educator for the Waukesha County Fair
Association, who along with 4-H volunteers and FFA members serves on the Meat Animal Quality Assurance (MAQA)
Program and Livestock Committee. She began the MAQA program while the county 4-H Youth Development Educator, and
now serves as an Extension retiree volunteer. In Wisconsin, she is a highly sought after County Fair Judge, who helps
develop youth via face to face and conference judging discussions. Tamie’s civic contributions to her local and state Rotary
organization, as well as travel to Peru and Swaziland/South Africa with Rotary to view human/child conditions, has enabled
her to serve as a conduit for creating worldwide community service partnerships.
Tamie has served in many leadership positions such as President of the Wisconsin Association of Extension 4-H Youth
Development Professionals (WAE4HYDP) in 1989, as well as chaired numerous WAE4-HYDP committees. Currently she is
a Life Member Representative on the WAE4-HYDP Scholarship Committee that awards funding to help members attend
professional improvement opportunities. She served as the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA) North
Central Regional Director in the early 2000’s as well as National Conference Tri-chair for the 2006 NAE4HA Conference.
She’s held numerous leadership roles in the Department of Youth Development, serving as a Department Vice Chair, as
well as chair of the Standards Rank and Promotion Committee. She was the President of the Waukesha County Volunteer
Center Board, Director on the Waukesha County Museum Board, Director on the Ozaukee County 4-H Foundation Board
and held numerous committee chair and officer roles in the Waukesha Sunrise Rotary Club. In 1988, she was the first
woman in the Waukesha Sunrise Rotary Club, and later, became the first woman president of her club. Her most prestigious
role has been serving as the District Governor in Rotary International and District 6270, comprised of 59 Rotary Clubs and
over 3,300 Rotarians. Now as a Past District Governor (PDG), she chairs the Vision Facilitation Team across her Rotary
District – working with 14 trained facilitators, which in their first year completed 12 Visioning processes, impacting the work
of 750 Rotarians and their local communities.
Tamie’s Extension career has been distinguished. She worked in two Wisconsin counties, Oconto and Waukesha. Oconto
is a very rural county, while Waukesha, located next to Milwaukee, experienced huge growth and urbanization. Over the
years, Tamie has mentored many new staff to develop their professionalism to enable them to achieve success in their role
as 4-H Youth Development Educators. Her strengths were developing leadership skills in older youth involved in their 4-H
summer camp program; mentoring older youth’s service projects and empowering volunteer leaders. She was an early
innovator who recruited middle management volunteers to serve as resource conduits and mentors to less experienced
volunteers and 4-H parents. After the federal Youth Protection mandate, Tamie served on the state Youth Protection Team
that developed training materials, piloted the county implementation of Volunteer Orientation Leader Training and helped
with revisions. She estimates that she taught youth protection to over 1,000 Waukesha County volunteers. Now in Rotary,
she is the official district Youth Protection Educator, teaching Rotarians in the Rotary Youth Exchange program as well as
advisors in the Rotary High School Youth Interact Chapters.
Tamie belonged to the Waubeka 4-H Club in Ozaukee County, where she excelled in dairy, clothing and youth leadership
projects. Throughout her life she demonstrated great personal strength of character by dealing with her own physical
issues, which over time resulted in joint replacements. Later on she dealt with the tragic loss of her husband and both
parents, during the same time period, with dignity, respect and unending dedication to serve others first. During her entire 4H career, she has been a strong advocate for youth. For example, in 1999 a pregnant 4-H teen wanted to show her animals
at the Waukesha County Fair and was experiencing many obstacles. Tamie mentored that teen, counseled her family and
convinced the Fair Board that this 4-H member must be allowed to show her projects. It was a win-win for all. If you ever
needed something done – Tamie was the go to person. She would tackle any issue, get it done, while ensuring that
everyone had the opportunity to develop strong positive relationships. She is indeed a most worthy representative of our
state and we would be very proud to have her inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame!