Alan and Kaye Mussman are the perfect volunteer team

In observance of the Week of the Volunteer, Nebraska 4-H is proud to celebrate some of the 2023 Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Award Winners.

Alan and Kaye Mussman are receiving the Outstanding Adult Volunteer Award for Zone 10. Alan and Kaye volunteer with the Thayer County 4-H program and were nominated by Tammy Johnson, Nebraska Extension Office Manager in Thayer County.

"Kaye and Alan are a team!" said Johnson.

Kaye worked as the Thayer County 4-H Aide for 15 years. During that time, her husband Alan volunteered to support whatever Kaye worked on. He assisted with workshops, camps, and trips. He helped secure materials for projects and shop for supplies. He donated shop space, worked with youth, and built parade floats and office cabinets. Alan was always up for any new task that was asked of him, even if it required learning a new skill or purchasing a new tool to make something work.

During her time with Extension, Kaye worked diligently to build up the Quilts of Valor program. She worked with the Founders to sponsor sewing days, where the youth worked all day making quilt tops. Kaye found helpers and sponsors to assist in the quilting process to keep costs minimal. She went to all the local schools teaching sewing, cooking, crafting, and woodworking through classroom engagement and afterschool programming. Kaye was integral to the Quilts of Valor display and presentation during the Nebraska State Fair. She also helped with the Fashion Show at the State Fair. Kaye and Alan have sponsored several CWF trips and chaperoned youth during these civic engagement trips to Washington, DC. 

Though her time as a Nebraska Extension employee is behind her, Kaye still volunteers at workshops, serves as a 4-H Camp Sponsor and Instructor, and coordinates community service projects at Camp Jefferson. She continues to support youth interested in quilting and sewing through guidance and by providing her equipment and home to those in need. Kaye still advocates for 4-H throughout the community. 

"This couple has gone over and above on so many levels!" wrote Johnson. 

Tell us about yourselves.

We have been happily married since 1980, living on our family farm near Alexandria and farming and ranching on the family farms in Thayer, Fillmore, and Saline counties. Together, we raised two wonderful daughters, Dena (Evan) and Leah (Ty), who have given them three beautiful granddaughters named McKinley, Sophie, and Ivy.

Throughout our many years together, we have also dedicated a great deal of our time to volunteering for various causes in our community, including church youth groups, Girl Scouts, and 4-H. We have been involved with 4-H since 2008. We have shared our love of woodworking, quilting, camping, and other activities with hundreds of young people in the community.

In our free time, we enjoy kayaking, camping, quilting, crafting, traveling, and most of all, spending time with our family and friends. We are always eager to share our love of life and adventure with others.

What do you look forward to when you step into your volunteer roles?

We are passionate about our work with youth and are always looking for new and creative ways to educate and engage with them. We also enjoy getting to know the kids on a personal level and finding ways to connect with them, oftentimes developing strong relationships with many of the kids for years to come as they continue to grow into adults and leaders in the community.

What are your favorite memories as 4-H volunteers?

Alan: My favorite memory as a 4-H volunteer was inviting local youth to visit the woodshop on our family farm to work on woodworking projects.

Kaye: My favorite memory was working with local youth to work on quilt projects, which is a hobby close to my heart.

We enjoyed watching as the youth learned to use the woodworking tools and sewing machines with caution and skill, taking pride in their creations.

How have you helped youth find their spark through 4-H?

We find great satisfaction sharing our knowledge on a topic with local kids. We assist the kids by demonstrating technique, answering questions, providing advice, and helping the young people with their projects, then watching the kids' develop new skills and confidence. We love seeing the kids' faces light up when they accomplish something they had never done before.