There’s a lot to say about the Town & Country’s senior writer Les Dunford — he's been a newspaper man for nearly 30 years — but one 4-H alumnus turned the tables on him and gave him the space to (reluctantly) talk about himself in the October issue of 4-H Alberta Magazine, and his involvement in 4-H coverage at this newspaper.
The Town & Country has been the home of 4-H coverage for three decades, a unique feature of the local news and extensive media coverage this region receives, different from others in the province thanks to Dunford.
Claudelle Key, who graduated from 4-H in 1989 with the Premier’s Award, wrote the article on Dunford. She remembers him and his coverage from her time in the club, and recently, while visiting her mother, she discovered he’s still involved.
Key was struck not by Dunford’s longevity in the job, but by his continued zeal. Anybody can hold a job for close to 30 years, but few remain active, involved, thoughtful and even progressive with how they approach it.
To her, Dunford’s coverage expressed a different kind of involvement that went beyond requirements of a job — he doesn’t seem to get tired of it.
“I did public relations for 20 years. The deadlines, at 20-something you can cope really well, but 30s and 40s you don’t have the same stamina. I just don’t know how he does it … I don’t know how he maintains that kind of enthusiasm,” said Key.
The annual 4-H spread doesn’t just include winners, and this was at Dunford’s suggestion. Class, starting weight and the animal’s name are included too for each 4H-er, and providing that amount of detail each year also struck Key.
“It’s just the enthusiasm and the energy that he continues to put in for 4-H, he’s our biggest advocate and our best ambassador. We’re so fortunate and blessed in that community to have somebody in the media that just goes to bat for 4-H the way he does.
“I’m not surprised his kids and his grandkids are part of it.”
From there, Key contacted the provincial magazine’s editor, Cameron Horner, who already knew Dunford and gave Key the space in the October edition.
It’s difficult to get Dunford to say how he feels about the article, apart from “it’s very nice.” The conversation will inevitably circle back to the kids in 4-H, to all the ones he’s seen over the ages, to the little girl who shyly said “no” when a judge asked her jokingly if she had painted the cow like that earlier this year.
In the paragraphs below, Key presents one aspect of Dunford's writing career — the 4-H coverage. He's the man everyone in town knows and if you’ve worked for the News, at least one person in a grocery store will ask you to “say hi to Les.”
Breeding esteem in 4-H (by Claudelle Key, 4-H Alumnus and 1989 Premier’s Award Recipient)
If we follow our peer group, most commence a career in their early twenties. Based on personal experience, I believe many begin to re-evaluate their careers within 20 years. I’m not sure if it’s because 40 years of age is the quintessential middle age, forcing us to recognize that if we sincerely want to make a change, the time is now. Or if it’s because after about 20 years, one has long mastered a skillset, and the human mind and heart just naturally crave or yearn for a change.
Given his dedication to a career three decades old, which is apparent in his continued, long-standing and tireless coverage of 4-H, there is indeed one newspaper journalist who defies the notion that one’s enthusiasm ever wanes. In the face of writing about 4-H for more than 30 years, when you read or enjoy his latest 4-H story or feature, you could easily think he’s a first-time reporter, on a first-time assignment, covering his first-ever beat.
His unceasing commitment parallels that of our 4-H leaders – those nominated for the prestigious national volunteer leader awards. As a result of his drive and devotion to 4-H, the energies and accomplishments of 4-Hers continue to be recognized, the benefits and values of the program continue to be esteemed, and the support and sponsorship from the community continue to be extended.
I experienced this, this past spring, while home at my parents perusing the Westlock News. Coming across the extensive, full-color feature on the local 4-H Achievement Day, I immediately recognized the labours of this local writer (his signature stamp), and commented to my Mom, “After all these years, Mr. Dunford still just does so much to highlight and promote 4-H.”
Our family’s path had first crossed Les Dunford’s, – senior writer for the Town & Country, a weekly supplement to the Athabasca Advocate, Barrhead Leader, Lac La Biche Post and Westlock News – more than three decades earlier, when he’d first began untiringly covering and promoting 4-H.
“I don’t like just pulling in the winners,” admits Dunford. “A lot of the kids put in the same efforts and all the same care for their animals,” he says, noting that years earlier he had supported the idea of selling ads so a fuller Achievement Day feature could be both produced and sustained. “It’s work, but there’s a pleasure in doing it,” he says, explaining that people regularly comment and let him know they appreciate seeing the coverage. “The kids like seeing pictures,” he says. While he acknowledges that the cutlines take a bit more work because they afford information such as the animal’s name, starting weight and breed, he expends the energy to further engage his readers. “I’m grateful that the Westlock and Barrhead Achievement Days are two weeks apart. This allows me to work on them for two weeks steady.”
His care for 4-H was evident at the onset of his newspaper career some 30 years ago. “The 4-H Reports would come in. Sometimes they’d get used, sometimes they wouldn’t. I didn’t think that was really fair,” says Dunford, recalling that because there wasn’t an assigned location in the local paper, many would hit the cutting room floor. Often handwritten, some would come through the mail and they would never have a photo because no one had a scanner. Since he had control over the Town & Country, he suggested the Reports be centralized and reside there. “This would encourage our young readers to open up the paper and read it. It’s the pride. The kids see their names I the paper and say, ‘I wrote that. That’s mine.’” In addition, 4-H news would be spread throughout four different communities.
“It’s the enjoyment I get out of it… it’s very satisfying to see the kids grow and develop skills – skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives,” says Dunford, admitting that he enjoys seeing how these young people improve in how they look after their animals.
“The first year they’re stumbling around the ring with their animal and are having a hard time – they’re not leading, but goading it along. Sometimes the animal takes over. But everything changes by the next year.”
This writer highlights that it is very rewarding to watch kids grow up in 4-H. “I look down at them and they’re shorter than me. Next year, by golly, they’re taller than me,” he says, explaining that he’s watched two generations of kids flourishing in 4-H and adds if you include their parents (a few who are still leaders), he’s worked with three generations. “They’re kids and then they become young adults. I see them mature and become leaders themselves,” he says.
“I see the effort they put in and the rewards they get out… The reward comes to the kids who work hard. The animal shows better. Whether it’s the showmanship championship or grooming, it generally pays off.” He adds, “You can tell which kids put in the extra effort, which care more… I’ve seen tears when they lead the animal in the ring for the last time. They know what’s coming. They know they have to say goodbye… It becomes personal.”
Dunford adds, “The kids are enjoying what they’re doing and learning at the same time.” In his mind, the interprovincial exchanges epitomize this.
“It really broadens their 4-H experience… They get to learn more about their country, cultural differences and it helps bring a better sense of unity – kids in one part of the country see that kids in another part are basically the same… It’s interesting to see how quickly new friendships are made – lifelong friendships. I’ve seen romances blossom out of there,” he says, adding with a smile, “Not sure if it lasts.” In his mind, another great benefit is the scholarships. “Between these and the different travel experiences, it expands their whole lives by having all these opportunities if they take advantage of them.”
This gentleman admits he’s far from alone when witnessing the difference 4-H makes in a young person’s life. He recalls how the vice principal at the local high school always maintained she could tell which kids in her class were in 4-H, simply because of their public speaking skills and how they spoke in class. “I’ve heard where some people say they’d actually hire a kid over another because he or she has been in 4-H. They know these kids learn to do by doing… A person figures that kid knows how to work,” says Dunford.
While he had the privilege of watching two of his grandchildren flourish in 4-H, he further lights up when he speaks about watching his almost four-year old great-granddaughter Emily ‘help’ his son, or her Grandpa, feed and water the animals at Farmfair. “I only wish I had the 4-H experience as a kid,” says this great-grandfather, whose contributions have impacted 4-Hers for over 30 years and have allowed the program to thrive beyond measure. “I know Emily’s going to be in 4-H one day.”
