By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Elizabeth “Liz” Strow spent most of her 89 years connected to Ohio State University Extension.
For nearly 50 years, she was a 4-H mom to her four children, a 4-H grandmother to her seven grandchildren, a longtime local and state 4-H camps scholarship donor to more than 170 youths, and a dedicated committee member and volunteer for the Women in Ag program in Wood County.
As a behind-the-scenes kind of person, she wasn’t one for being in the spotlight. Yet, in her quiet, compassionate way, she inspired hundreds and hundreds of people in her work with OSU Extension in Wood County.
Though she passed away in November 2023, her contributions to Extension programs, primarily in Wood County, earned her a posthumous award as Friend of Ohio State University Extension earlier this month in Columbus. The family proudly accepted the award on behalf of their mother and grandmother.
Liz was not just a friend, but a best friend to all of Extension, said Jennifer Morlock, program assistant for Wood County 4-H Youth Development.
“The impact Liz left on Extension continues to impact a countless number of 4-H youth, supports the advancement of women in agriculture, and sets the stage for her family and friends to continue her legacy for generations to come,” Morlock said.
Liz’s legacy in the agricultural community is somewhat ironic because she didn’t grow up on a farm, said her son Bob. She was studying at Ohio State University to become a teacher when she met, fell in love with, and eventually married Robert Strow, a Wood County dairy farmer.
“Mom was always a teacher and a lifelong learner,” Bob said. “It was a true calling in life” that carried over into everything she did and contributed to her adapting well to farm life. As she embraced her and her family’s life in agriculture, she became a true advocate for 4-H, Extension and Women in Agriculture.
Agriculture became a passion she shared as a teacher, a woman of faith and an active volunteer, said her daughter Peggy Strow.
4-H focus
Early on, she discovered the value of 4-H in the education and life-lessons bestowed on her four kids—Richard, Linda, Peggy and Bob. Ever the teacher, Liz saw how they benefited from the program whether it was by starting and completing their 4-H projects or spending a week at 4-H Camp.
She provided scholarships over the years that have allowed more than 170 youths to attend 4-H Camp, who otherwise might get to go, Bob said. “She believed camp was a big deal that was not only fun, but also where kids can meet new friends beyond the borders of their schools.”
“Mom was a master of support, care and compassion,” Peggy said. “She really loved people and wanted to try to support them and help them in any way she could, with a listening ear, a helping hand or financial support.”
Her donations continue to send 4-H members to camp and recognize outstanding 4-H project work, Bob said.
Women in Agriculture
Liz found a real purpose in helping with Wood County’s Women in Agriculture conference. She was on the planning committee for the first event in 1993 and “remained as steadfast as she was in the inaugural year,” Morlock said. She assisted OSU Extension in providing farm families with business management, personal development, grain marketing resources and healthy living practices.
“I was so impressed with her, because every year she brought innovative ideas to the table,” said Susan Zies, family and consumer sciences educator for Wood County, and one of the leads for the Women in Agriculture conference.
Each year she shared informative articles with the planning committee that would include topics of interest across demographics. Because she was an avid reader, a consummate educator, and someone who stayed up-to-date on current topics in agriculture, she always had suggestions for keynote speakers and breakout sessions that appealed to the young FFA members and recent college graduates who attended to the more experienced women and professionals in agriculture.
“I think her experience in agriculture allowed her to find ideas that resonated with all ages. She had an eye for compelling content,” Zies said. “For a woman of her age, who was still helping well into her 80s, Liz had an innate ability to connect with all ages.”
She had creativity and a vision that showed in the little things she would do. In addition to sharing some of the big ideas for the conference, Liz also was first to volunteer with the more mundane, behind-the-scenes tasks such as stuffing envelopes, folding flyers and putting together packets.
Chasitie Euler, a member of the Women in Ag planning committee, appreciated having someone like Liz to learn from. She was really wise and very calculated in her dynamics. “When she spoke, everyone quieted down and listened to her pearls of wisdom,” Euler said.
“She brought a historical and life perspective to the table that you don’t see all the time,” she said, adding that she also had the benefit of seeing Liz as “an awesome grandma to my nieces and nephews,” because her sister-in-law Angela Euler married Liz’s son Bob.
“Liz had a lot of hardships, including the loss of her husband in a farming accident. But that didn’t stop her from being a caring person who would drop everything to help anybody,” Euler said. “She continued to guide 4-H youth and women in agriculture and was a true pillar in our community. She was a leader to us and to her children instilling the value of education, agriculture and community.”
The legacy of community
Liz was a beacon of inspiration in the value of education and community that she fostered. Every day she modeled the importance of giving back to the community.
The award is the result of her being so generous to the agricultural community, specifically through OSU Extension.
“We are all so proud of Mom and everything she accomplished over the years: her teaching as a fourth grade teacher, her great work with us as kids and seven grandkids, and caring about what we do,” Peggy said. “She let us dream what we wanted to dream, supporting us and helping us toward those goals”
Her children and grandchildren learned her lessons well and continue her legacy of being involved in their communities.
“She sometimes would push us to do the best we could and made sure we followed through on what we started,” Peggy said. She also knew when to pull back.
“After four years taking 4-H sewing projects, Mom knew it was something I didn’t really care for,
Peggy recalled. At the end of that year, she told me I didn’t have to sew any more. I was so happy, but I didn’t walk away from 4-H. Instead, she let me focus on showing dairy cattle, cooking, nutrition and some miscellaneous 4-H projects.”
She would have been humbled with the award, Bob said, but she likely would have suggested there was someone who was more deserving than her, Peggy added.
When submitting Liz’s award nomination in 2023, before she passed away, Morlock stressed that her “her outstanding personal traits” were exactly what defined a friend to Extension. She wasn’t selected in 2023, so Morlock submitted the nomination again in 2024.
She stressed that Liz was impactful because she made a difference in the lives of others; a person of character who lived with integrity; inspiring as a role model who taught by example; and insightful because she recognized the importance of history and how it impacts the future.
Liz also learned to share her experiences and enthusiasm about OSU Extension programming with elected officials because she recognized the essential role they play in every office across the state, Morlock said.
“The imprint she stamped in the countless number of lives stretched over 47+ years, and her perseverance in Extension was impossible to measure,” Morlock added.
“We need more Liz Strows in the world,” said Zies. Thankfully, the lessons she shared in her quiet, humble way lives on through her family and friends who continue her legacy in their commitment and dedication to the agricultural community and beyond.
