Eminent Homemaker
County: Brookings
Barbara Halbersma is an outstanding volunteer in the Brookings community who believes in giving the very best of herself. Barbara and her husband Lawrence have farmed for 39 years in Brookings County and for three years in Minnehaha County. With the help of their four children, the Halbersmas milked dairy cows for 30 years. They have beef cows and have sold down in anticipation of retirement. Barbara is known throughout the community and region for her service activities. She served on the Harvest States Board and was on its nominating committee. She implemented the Buckle-Up Tot rental project in Brookings County and attended the Governor's Safety Conference as a county representative. She is a member of the PTA, past president and secretary of the White Community Club, president of the Volunteer Service Bank, and was recognized for volunteering more than 200 hours in less than two years.
She is also active in the American Legion Auxiliary and Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church and choir. She is on the Immunization Coalition at the Brookings Hospital and assists with their promotions. Her efforts to support and foster the Cooperative Extension Service and 4-H organization are almost too numerous to count. In addition to serving as a member of the County Extension Advisory Board, she was a 4-H Leader for 25 years and a food and nutrition key leader for 15 years. She was the 4-H Achievement Day lunch stand supervisor for 14 years and was a 4-H judge at the county and state level. She also presented food workshops for 4-H members. She belongs to the Brookings County CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition and works closely with the Deubrook School System on that project.
Barbara is an Extension Homemaker and FCE member for 42 years and has held many of the leadership positions including President of the county FCE organization. She was on the committee to revise the South Dakota Association for Family and Community Education constitution and bylaws and has served on many other state and local committees. She gave educational presentations at three state conventions and has helped with the Krafty Kids Library. Barbara attended three FCE National Conventions and University Week for Women.
Her awards are numerous. She received the state Safety Award from the SDAFCE for her efforts in the Buckle-Up Tot project and was nominated for the "Spirit of South Dakota Award." She received the 1997 local, state, and national community service award from the American Legion Auxiliary. She was featured as the Brookings Register Cook of the Week and Argus Leader Cook of the Month in 1995. Barbara and her husband Lawrence have four children: Belinda Crouse of Watertown; Kimberly Halbersma of White; Timothy Halbersma of Brookings; and Julie Shellflug of Waukesha, Wisconsin.