Baumgart brings passion for 4-H to Wadena County
- Trinity Gruenberg
- 1 hour ago
- 1 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Wadena County Extension Office has welcomed a new educator, Lacey Baumgart, who is actively involved in planning 4-H events and preparing for the upcoming county fair.
Raised in the Butler and Hill View area, Baumgart is a graduate of New York Mills High School. With a background as a special education teacher spanning 15 years—most recently in Sebeka and the Freshwater Education District as a consultant—she retired in May to homeschool her two young children, Hazel, 9, and Orin, 4, alongside her husband, Raymond (TJ).
Baumgart humorously noted her quick return to work: “And like every good retired person, I’m already back out of retirement,” she said with a laugh.
Her family’s commitment to the Wadena County 4-H program became evident when they attended a county commissioner meeting last fall, advocating against proposed cuts to the program. They had participated in another county’s fair for two years before joining Wadena County, where they felt welcomed by a relaxed atmosphere.
“We felt really good about the vibe; as the kids say, it just was really relaxed,” Baumgart recalled....
