09/24/2026
CONGRATULATIONS to Sue Giles! She will be inducted into the Oregon 4-H Hall of Fame on September 30th. The Lincoln County 4-H Program is so blessed to have dedicated leaders like Sue. Please help us in congratulating Sue for this momentous achievement.
Below is a copy of the submitted nomination letter…
“The most powerful thing I have experienced through my years as a 4-H member and leader is having a club alumnus come up to me and share how much 4-H impacted their life, then watching their own children join the club as members,” Sue reminisces with tears in her eyes.
Over the past 55 years, Sue Giles has become woven into the fabric of our community through relationships that span generations. What began as a young member experience in Lincoln County has grown into a lifelong commitment to youth development, animal care, and community service. Former 4-H members now return as parents, entrusting their own children to the mentor who once guided them. Her impact is not confined to projects or awards; it is evident in the confidence, resilience, and sense of belonging she has helped cultivate in thousands of young people across the county.
The depth of Sue’s influence is best expressed through those she has mentored. One former member shared that Sue’s support and guidance had “saved her life.” Another, Kaety Jacobson, whose own children later joined Sue’s club, describes her as “like a second mom” to many youth in the community.
“My mom once told me how much she appreciated Sue because she could guide me and talk to me in ways I would have dismissed if the words had come from my parents,” Kaety shared. “Sue truly sees who kids are; she guides them, helps them, and encourages them. When you sign your kid up for dog 4-H, you are essentially signing them up to have lifelong support from Sue.”
Sue Giles first joined the Lincoln County 4-H Program at the age of nine. She was drawn to a program where youth could learn from caring adult mentors in addition to their own dedicated parents. In “Arts & Crafts Club” with Leader Carol Likens and then in a traditional sewing and cooking club with Carol Jones, Sue gained early skills and confidence. She eventually sewed her own homecoming dress and under the encouragement of Evelyn Brookhyser (current Hall of Fame Member), she entered her dress in the Lincoln County Fair. These formative experiences not only built practical life skills bit also shaped Sue’s understanding of mentorship, leadership, and belonging.
At age fourteen, Sue joined Tail Waggers, now known as K-9 Krusaders, where she discovered her lifelong passion for dogs and youth leadership. Embracing the 4-H Slogan of “Learn by Doing,” she quickly turned her project area into something larger. Still a teenager and too young to drive, Sue built an early dog training business by welcoming clients who brought their dogs directly to her. That same determination and initiative evolved into Dog Training with Sue Giles, which remains a thriving business today and reflects decades of hands-on experience, education, and community trust.
Sue’s influence extends far beyond her own business or the show ring. Through club meetings, demonstrations, community service projects, fairs, and fundraisers, she has consistently created meaningful learning opportunities for youth. Her teaching style blends structure with real-world experience, ensuring young people not only learn technical skills but also develop responsibility, communication, empathy, and a commitment to community service.
Sue first discovered the value of service as a member of Empire Builders, where she learned that 4-H is about more than projects; it is about giving back to others. Over the years, that commitment has been passed on to generations of youth who have gone on to serve their communities as first responders, animal welfare advocates, volunteers, and community leaders. One former member, now a local firefighter and AEMT, credits his experiences caring for injured animals and helping others through 4-H with helping shape his career path. Another former member was so inspired by Sue’s mentorship that she became a 4-H dog leader herself. Today, this new leader and Sue lead the Lincoln County Dog Program, ensuring that the knowledge, traditions, and values Sue has cultivated for decades continue to influence future generations of youth.
Kaety still laughs while recalling one of Sue's memorable flea-dip fundraisers. During the event, a police officer confidently explained that his highly trained police dog would jump directly into the flea-dip tub on command and suggested that youth should have similar control over their dogs. Instead, the dog leaped over the tub, wrapped the leash around it, and pulled the officer directly into the flea bath. As chaos unfolded around her, Sue calmly turned the moment into a lesson. Looking at her junior leaders, she reminded them that even the best-trained dogs are still dogs, and that flexibility, patience, and humility are essential when working with animals. The story has become part of local 4-H lore, remembered years later not because of the mishap itself, but because it reflects Sue's unique ability to transform everyday experiences into meaningful lessons.
While the flea-dip fundraiser eventually ended, Sue’s commitment to community education only expanded. Today, the Lincoln County 4-H Dog Program continues that legacy through their annual rabies vaccination clinic, where youth help educate dog owners about responsible pet care and the importance of legal vaccination requirements. These experiences allow youth to apply their knowledge in real community settings while reinforcing public health and animal welfare.
Sue has also maintained a strong focus on early youth engagement. She has brought dogs into schools to teach safety and respectful animal interaction, participated for many years in the Newport Children’s Festival, and visited Cloverbud meetings to introduce younger children to 4-H and inspire early interest in animal science and leadership. These outreach efforts create a pipeline of youth engagement that begins long before formal membership age and strengthens the future of the program.
Beyond 4-H, Sue’s dedication to animal welfare and community service continues through her professional work. She was recognized as a Hometown Hero for her contributions to Lincoln County and currently serves as an Animal Care Specialist and Volunteer Coordinator at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter. In this role, she not only cares for animals but also trains and supports volunteers, strengthening the capacity of the shelter to serve the community. Across all her roles, she consistently integrates the same values she teaches youth—responsibility, compassion, leadership, and service. Whether mentoring 4-H members, educating the public, training volunteers, or caring for animals, Sue has spent a lifetime helping others grow and succeed. The spark for that lifelong commitment to service began in 4-H.
For more than five decades as a 4-H member, volunteer, entrepreneur, educator, and community leader, Sue Giles has demonstrated the very best of what 4-H represents. Her legacy is visible not only in accomplished 4-H members, successful businesses, and trained animals, but in the generations of youth who grew into capable, confident adults because one caring leader believed in them. As former members return with children on their own, Sue’s impact continues to ripple through Lincoln County ; proof that the greatest measure of a 4-H leader is not the projects completed or ribbons earned, but the lives changed along the way.
