Cherokee Chums 4-H celebrates 100 years

The Cherokee Chums 4-H club is celebrating its 100 year anniversary this year.

Cherokee Chums 4-H is a community club where members are able to participate in activities such as showing animals or projects at the Wisconsin Valley Fair, serving at the Abbotsford and Colby June dairy breakfasts, highway clean up, Salvation Army bell ringing, visiting nursing homes, serving at the Colby Cheese Days pop stand and participating in the parade.

Throughout the years, memories have been made and new experiences created.

The organization started off as two separate clubs before the two clubs merged. Mrs. Della Brehm created the Cherokee Girls 4-H club in 1924, and Arland Stall organized the Cherokee Holstein Calf Club in 1923, consisting of an overlap of several Cherokee Girls members.

The two clubs came together in 1932, creating what is now known as Cherokee Chums 4-H, the oldest community club in the area, according to the Colby Centennial book. Mrs. Ervin Eggebrecht, the Cherokee Girls 4-H leader at the time, became the leader of the newly founded Cherokee Chums 4-H club. She continued this position for 41 years.

Members from the surrounding towns joined as well. It was a club that focused on creating relationships and sharing their interest in agriculture. An article on the club in the 1973 Colby Centennial book stated there were 70 members in the 4-H at the time, led by Brice Bender and Mrs. Hugo Mielke.

Cherokee Chums is presently a club of 28 members. Traditions have grown from year to year such as the hayride hosted by Steve and Carol Luther, and an achievement banquet every November where newly elected officers are installed and achievements from the fair are recognized.

The club has held strong for 100 years and will continue to establish traditions, build character and make memories for its members for many years to come.

The Cherokee Chums are currently led by Jay Heeg and Chad Bender.