Arkansas 4-H Alumni Association

Pat Dodgen Schaefers

Faulkner County

Outstanding Arkansas 4-H Alumna, 2011

Pat Dodgen Schaefers joined the Saline Co. Collyville 4-H Club when she was 10 years old. The main leaders were Margirete and Jack Matthews and her parents, Bill and Cecilia Dodgen.

One of her earliest 4-H memories was doing a demonstration "How to Clean Silverware" on the Bob Buice Saturday Morning Farm Show on Channel 4.

She held every office in club and county, entered talent contests, showed canned goods, baked goods, gardened, and was honored as the Junior and Senior County Outstanding 4-H girl. She attended State 4-H O’Rama, functions at the old Marion Hotel, and County Camp as a member and then counselor, as well as Citizenship Short Course in Washington , D.C.

She stated, My greatest achievement was being selected an International Farm Youth Exchange delegate to Sweden in 1963 for six months, living with six different farm families in various areas of Sweden, giving slide show talks to civic groups and young people’s clubs and sending articles home to the Benton Courier.

She has a degree in home economics from U of A, and served as Assistant Home Demonstration Agent for Lonoke County where she worked with the 4-H clubs.

She and her husband, Bob, moved to Faulkner Co. where he was assistant county agent. In 1973 they began farming full time, and now farm 1400 acres, raising corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, beef cattle, and hay. "We are a family operated business."

In 2005 the family began Schaefers Corn Maze which has grown quickly into a large agri-tourism activity. In 2009 the Schaefers were selected as Faulkner County and West Central Arkansas District Farm Family of the year.

Their children, Daryl, Chris, Angela and James were raised in 4-H and won many awards and trips. Pat helped form the Country Cadron 4-H Club in 1977 and was the main leader for 23 years. In 1979 she was selected as Faulkner County 4-H Alumni of the Year.