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Jacy McAlexander (2000-2018) was an active Logan Larks 4-H Club member from Rockwell City, even after he was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma cancer when he was 8 years old. Jacy was a three-time Calhoun County Outstanding 4-H member, National 4-H Congress participant, National 4-H Conference attendee, plus he received the Iowa 4-H Foundation Contributing 4-H Youth Award.

“Do all the good you can” defined the way Jacy McAlexander lived his life, in the good times and the bad. Although he’s been gone five years now, this Rockwell City native continues to inspire people across Iowa and beyond.

Family and friends gathered recently to honor Jacy (2000-2018), a former Logan Larks 4-H Club member, who was inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 2023 Iowa State Fair.

“4-H was such a big part of Jacy’s life,” said his mother, Kerri McAlexander, who was a Logan Larks 4-H club leader for 15 years along with her husband, Earl.

Not only was Jacy an active member of the Logan Larks 4-H Club, but he also served on the Calhoun County 4-H Council and State 4-H Council. Even after the teen was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare type of cancerous tumor that grows in the bones or the soft tissue around the bones, he never quit serving others.

He became a National Honor Society member, achieved his dream to become an Eagle Scout and attended the National 4-H Congress in the fall of 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia, as cancer weakened his body.

Jacy embraced a wide range of 4-H projects, from photography and pets (he was a lifelong cat lover) to communication and citizenship. He even channeled his cancer journey into 4-H educational exhibits on radiation treatment.

“Jacy always set the bar high,” said Kerri McAlexander, who noted that many of his projects earned top honors at the Calhoun County Exposition and the Iowa State Fair. “He believed that nothing less than his best was good enough.”

Building Iowa’s leaders

This kind of dedication defines the people who are inducted each year into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame. The Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2002 when 4-H celebrated 100 years of a program dedicated to teaching youth life skills.

Counties across Iowa nominate volunteers, community leaders, and Extension staff members who have exemplified outstanding service and dedication to the 4-H youth program in their county. Inductees into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame, including Jacy, represent the many people in Iowa who have contributed countless hours to the 4-H program.

These exceptional volunteers have modeled community service, integrity and leadership.

Their legacy is the young people they’ve mentored, who will in turn support the continuation of a 4-H program that builds Iowa’s leaders.

Jacy proved that teenagers can embody all these skills. During his school years, Jacy participated in a variety of 4-H activities and had many projects advance to the Iowa State Fair.

He used the skills he learned to help organize and lead workshops during his time on the Calhoun County 4-H Council, as well as the State 4-H Council.

Jacy was often recognized during his time as a 4-H’er, including as a three-time Calhoun County Outstanding 4-H member, National 4-H Congress and National 4-H Conference attendee and more. He also received the Iowa 4-H Foundation Contributing 4-H Youth Award.

Jacy learned from a young age how challenging life can be. He was first diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma cancer when he was 8 years old. During treatment, he received therapy from a child life specialist. Because the specialist provided such fun during a scary time, Jacy wanted to say thank you. He held a garage sale, sold his old toys and books, and donated the proceeds to the specialist.

During his treatment, Jacy also learned about the Ronald McDonald House, which helps keep families with critically ill children together during their time of need. Jacy started saving pop tabs when he was challenged to collect 1,000,000 tabs (more than 800 pounds). To help meet his goal, Jacy recruited everyone he knew. It took about three years, but he was able to meet that goal.

He immediately started on a new goal to collect a ton of tabs. Jacy was pretty sure he met his goal in May 2018, but he passed away before the tabs could be officially weighed and turned in.

Jacy left such a big impact on his friends, family, and the 4-H community that Iowa 4-H’ers have continued to collect thousands of pounds of pop tabs in Jacy’s memory. These efforts provide ongoing support for the Ronald McDonald House.

“Jacy wanted people to know that everyone can do something to help others — even if it’s something as simple as pulling the tab off your can when you finish a drink,” noted the press release that announced his Iowa Hall of Fame award. “In an interview shortly before he passed away, Jacy challenged everyone to find something that needs to be done in their local area and get to it.”