Former county manager to work for National 4-H
Former Hamilton County Administrative Manager Scott Stuhr’s career is taking off like a shot, with Stuhr announcing last week he has been named the new program coordinator for the National 4-H Shooting Sports program.
In late July, when he tendered his resignation from the county position he has held for the past half-decade, Stuhr said for contractual reasons he could not comment on his new job, but received the go-ahead last week. Although he will be traveling periodically for work, the Central City resident said the job does not require him to move.
“It’s a work-from-anywhere job,” Stuhr said. “All I need is my computer and some internet.”
As national coordinator, Stuhr will be overseeing a program with 4-H shooting sports programs in 48 states.
“There’s a national committee that oversees the curriculum development for the 4-H Shooting Sports program,” he said. “The committee also oversees leader trainings. We are the only 4-H program that requires our instructors to be certified and trained in positive youth development, in the use of firearms and archery equipment.”
Stuhr said the national committee conducts leader training programs and also coordinates the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships that have been held in Grand Island for a number of years.
“And we do what’s called the Leadership Institute,” Stuhr continued. “It’s a 4-H ambassador program (in which) we take youth from around the country and we get together for a weekend and discuss and talk about leadership opportunities and help them to develop into stronger leaders.”
Stuhr said he will also be working on fundraising for a program to update the organization’s curriculum, some of which, he says, is nearly 40 years old.
“Over 40 years, you know, learners change and the way people get their information... has changed immensely,” Stuhr said, adding that he is excited about “updating everything and getting it moving forward into today’s world in today’s direction, changing things for today’s learners.”
“I’m beyond excited; this is a dream job for me,” Stuhr said. “I just believe in the program so much and it’s done so much for me and my family and... for kids and adults all over the country and it’s really just a dream job.”
Obviously, this isn’t the type of position one simply walks in off the street to apply for, and Stuhr’s list of qualifications and experience is long. In addition to having been a 4-H shooting sports instructor for over 20 years at the local, state and national level, Stuhr served on the national committee for seven years until he was term limited out in January. Prior to that he worked with the University of Nebraska Extension where he was involved in building the Outdoor U Program, a grant-funded program which was a cooperative effort between UNL and the state Game and Parks Commission. He is also a nationally certified instructor in archery, muzzle loading and hunting skills and has numerous other certifications.
Prior to his last day on the job with Hamilton County, Stuhr signed a contract with the county to continue working on a part-time basis until the end of September to help see the county through the transition period to hiring a new administrative manager and planning and zoning director. He said the county has extended a job offer to a candidate for the planning and zoning administrator position which has been accepted. He said when that individual starts work in early September, he will be helping to train the new administrator. Additionally, Stuhr said he has completed a job description for his old position as administrative manager and will begin to advertise that position soon.
Stuhr replaces Conrad Arnold of Maryland who has held the position of 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator since 2008.