Retirement… life’s reward for a job well done for two University of Nebraska Extension of Dawson County employees this past year. Both were recently honored at the 2024 Dawson County 4-H Achievement BBQ.
UNL Extension Educator Andrea Nisley of Elwood officially retired at the end of July after 45 years of teaching youth and adults in her job at the Dawson County Extension Office.
In December 2023, Dawson County 4-H Extension Assistant Mike Wolff of Gothenburg officially retired after nearly 12 years of organizing and promoting 4-H in the area.
UNL Extension Educator Andrea Nisley
Give a girl a needle and thread and she will plan vacations to stop at a fabric store! Nisley grew up in Eustis and was a 10 year Dawson County 4-H’er. After earning her graduate degree, Nisley moved back to the area to marry her husband, Fred, in 1977. Two years later, she applied for the part-time 4-H assistant position and was hired by Harold Stevens. Her first official day at Dawson County Extension Office was April 2, 1979 with mentors Harold Stevens, Dave Stenberg, Maddie Peterson and Bruce Treffer. In 1982, she became a full-time educator.
“I’ve been with the Extension Service in Dawson County ever since,” she said. “My co-workers and mentors were always there to answer my questions. My greatest joy has been giving back to the community and watching youth grow in life skills, watching them succeed and be recognized.”
“I met Andy when she was a 4-H’er in the Gingham Girls 4-H Club in Eustis,” said retired UNL Extension Educator Dave Stenberg of Lexington. “When she came to work at the office, her attention to detail and organization made it possible for her to handle so many 4-H and Extension programs, especially the family and consumer science 4-H projects. She came early and stayed late.”
Retired UNL Extension Educator Bruce Treffer agreed, adding Nisley’s contributions to the Dawson County 4-H program garnered extra attention on state and national levels. “With the excellence Andrea brought to the 4-H program, especially the Awards Program, Dawson County received a lot of recognition. Our team worked extremely well together.”
Nisley saw many changes through the years. Most notable are the generations of 4-H’ers who participated in family and consumer science projects, as well as the Dawson County and Nebraska State Fairs and public speaking, presentations or judging contests, to name a few.
In addition, the demographics of 4-H changed with the influx of new cultures to the area resulting in successful 4-H recruiting efforts. “It’s been very rewarding to provide opportunities to our new cultures and watching them grow and succeed in 4-H,” she said.
She remarks how office technology advanced from typewriters with carbon paper and time consuming mimeograph to desktop personal computers and multi-task copiers. However, she remains loyal to the effectiveness of a pencil and a sticky note!
Throughout Nisley’s career, she devoted time to many areas in the University Extension program including 4-H, Family and Community Education programs, certification courses for Food Safety and Guardianship, personal education training from University of Nebraska specialists to learn new projects, updates on new happenings in the 4-H program and community involvement.
Also, she answered countless phone calls and walk-in questions about food preservation, clothing construction and gardening. The “to-do” list was long and every day of the calendar was filled for this now retired Extension Educator.
“You can really tell when a person is where God intended them to be. All you need to do is look at the years of success of the 4-H’ers and the home economics projects, and you know Andrea did her job,” said office assistant Kayleen Zimmerman of Overton.
Looking ahead, Nisley plans to continue teaching the fine art of sewing with wool to youth participating in the annual Make It With Wool Contest. She is looking forward to more visits with her grandson Parker in Minnesota, as well as travelling with her husband, Fred.
“When time allows, maybe I can handle some of those projects I’ve planned on doing, but haven’t started yet here at home … like my garden, quilting and more sewing,” she said.
Send best wishes to Andrea Nisley, 74662 Rd 431, Elwood NE 68937.
Former 4-H’ers share memories
Former 4-H’ers have fond memories of their sewing and modeling experiences with Nisley.
The Ringenberg sisters both say Nisley has been a wonderful mentor and friend. Saidi said “Andrea has impacted Dawson County’s 4-H program in such an amazing, positive way, and I will never forget the impact she had on my life! One of my favorite memories will always be playing hide and seek with Andrea and Karla when we all needed a break. This still puts a smile on my face!” Sydni said “Sewing with her has been such a blessing and I will always remember the lessons she has taught me. One time I will forever cherish was sewing 24 hours straight to get my project done on time. We had loads of fun listening to music or just talking.”
“I have so many moments when I hear her voice in my head just going through daily life. I will always pose for photos with feet in the T position, hang my laundry with the hanger hooks to the left and choose wool fabric whenever I can. I think of her every time I travel, every time that I pick up an iron, and anytime I eat an animal cracker,” said Camille Anderson.
Erica (Heusinkvelt) Cardenas said, “Sewing for 4-H was my favorite part of summer growing up. It was a creative outlet and helped me build skills I needed for my textiles degree and job with an accessories design company. Andrea put so much energy in building the program and creating a great experience for so many kids.”
Natalie Dones and her sister Maricela (Dones) Muniz appreciated Nisley’s patience and made her part of their family. Maricela said, “Andrea has always been so patient and helpful. I started sewing when I was just seven with my older sister. From the beginning I always felt Andrea was more than our sewing instructor, she was part of our family! She always pushed us to participate in other 4-H activities that helped us develop other skills.” Natalie remembers her first sewing day. “I was 10 years old and I was so excited to make pants for the first time. Our summer sewing days consisted of sewing machine noise, animal crackers on breaks and music from our local country radio station. I feel she taught me to always challenge myself to be a better person.”
Abbie Owens said “One of my constants through my 4-H career was Andrea’s organization and kindness. She was someone I knew I could always come to with sewing expertise and wisdom.”
4-H Extension Assistant Mike Wolff
Shooting for the stars, Wolff’s 4-H career began as a young boy enrolled in the program for eight years. As an adult, he was a volunteer with Clever Clovers 4-H Club in Gothenburg giving his daughter the opportunities of 4-H membership. He and his wife, Chris, also became certified shooting sports instructors for the Antelope 4-H Club and trained 4-H’ers in the challenging sports of BB gun, 22 rifle, pistol and archery target shooting.
In April 2012, Wolff applied for and was hired as the Dawson County 4-H Extension Assistant. His past knowledge of the 4-H program and experience with youth of all ages gave him an edge for the job. Not to mention his life experiences, educational degrees and mechanical hands-on careers made Wolff the perfect “jack of all trades” for Dawson County Extension.
“His talent, skill and practical hands-on knowledge in such a wide range of subjects amazed me,” said Stenberg. “He has the ability to communicate that knowledge to youth on their level. He worked hard and always burned the candle at both ends.”
Shortly after being hired, Wolff founded the Dawson County 4-H Club and served as co-leader. The shooting sports 4-H project enrollment exploded and Wolff grew with it becoming the county shooting sports coordinator, a job he still does today.
“My most important activities on the job were shooting sports, robotics, embryology and rockets,” he said. “Most years, I conducted 20 to 25 workshops per year.”
Nisley said, “Mike built the shooting sports program here in Dawson County. He brought the embryology project back into the grade schools and embraced the new robotics program in many after school programs. His knowledge and dedication were a true asset to our program.”
Wolff also volunteered at the state level with the State 4-H Science team and State Curriculum Committee. He assisted with state shooting sports, robotics and other projects. When Treffer retired, Wolff also worked with other Educators and 4-H assistants across the state with the Dawson County 4-H livestock program.
“My favorite job was working with all the talented 4-H’ers, as well as the great office team,” Wolff said. “My greatest joy was seeing so many of the youth, who I helped mentor, take home medals and trophies in 4-H activities including local and state shooting sports, weed Identification, horticulture judging and identification, and tree and insect identification.”
To sum up, Wolff said he drew inspiration and support from his colleagues in the Dawson County Office including Treffer, Nisley, Sheryl Fellers and Sarah Sivits, to name a few.
“Mike is so knowledgeable in so many areas. He just grabbed the entire Dawson County 4-H program and did a great job,” said Treffer. “It was a pleasure working with him.”
In retirement now for almost a year, Wolff stays busy at his new job with the Nebraska Game and Parks where he can throw a fishing line in the water or watch the sunset over the lake with his wife. In a few years, they plan to move closer to their daughter, her husband and their children in Missouri.
Send best wishes to Mike Wolff, 713 11th Street, Gothenburg NE 69138
