In Memory of Rebecca R. (Calder) Beneš
4-H set the trajectory of Rebecca's career in veterinary practice. Before she passed away from cancer late last year, she noted 4-H as the top organization she cared about. Her family has started a fundraising campaign for Vermont 4-H to support her legacy.
Rebecca Randall (Calder) Beneš, a passionate and loving mother, wife, daughter, and 4-Her, passed away on November 27th, 2024. This memorial recognizes Rebecca’s involvement in 4-H and the program’s impact on her life. Rebecca followed in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother as a third-generation member of 4-H. During her 12 years of involvement (1996-2008) with the Shelburne Explorers 4-H Club, Rebecca exemplified the values of Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. Those who knew Rebecca were assured of her commitment to “make the best better,” the 4-H Motto.
Rebecca joined the 4-H club in first grade, where she first began learning about and working with calves. Through second and third grades, she learned to knit and sew with her mother and began to craft clothing items for her Beanie Baby collection. By the fourth grade, Rebecca had expanded into additional projects, including horse and theatre, and was walking, grooming, and caring for her first calf, Pansy. Between the Multi-County Show at the University of Vermont (UVM) and the Champlain Valley Fair, Rebecca won four blue ribbons and one red ribbon showing Pansy, as well as one blue ribbon for a romper she had sewn.
Rebecca’s participation in 4-H expanded during her middle school years. Rebecca attended Downer 4-H camp in the summer preceding 5th grade, which she would attend annually for the next four summers. In the same school year, she helped the club maintain its exhibit at the Addison County Fair and Field Days, where she also showed another calf, Belle. As she transitioned into 6th grade, Rebecca began caring for a new calf, Tina, whom she spent over 130 hours caring for and showing at Shelburne Farms Brown Swiss Invitational, Multi-County Dairy Show at UVM, and the Champlain Valley Fair. She also modeled a pair of pajamas she had sewn at the Regional Day and State Fashion Review.
On top of her other involvements, Rebecca also cared for a rabbit named Peter at Shelburne Farms Children’s Farmyard between 6th and 7th grade. She participated in the State Fashion Review and showed another calf, Tiki, at four dairy shows, including her first time at the State Show. During 7th and 8th grade, Rebecca contributed service to her community through the 4-H club and otherwise. She cared for two calves, Bridget and Starlite, the latter of whom she showed in four-day shows and placed well. Many may remember her showing in the costume class as “World’s Largest Hamburger and Ketchup,” which she modeled at Addison and Champlain Valley. She modeled different outfits she had sewn at the local TV Extension Service home and garden show Across the Fence, as well as the Regional Day, State Fashion Review, and Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
As she entered high school, Rebecca’s involvement in the 4-H program increased further, where she assumed leadership roles, contributed back to the club, and mentored younger members. As she entered 9th grade, Rebecca completed additional projects in foods and nutrition, leadership, agriculture, and community service. She attended Teen Congress at UVM and showed her Brown Swiss heifer, Chrissy, at dairy shows and fairs, as well as her garden produce, sewing outfits, crafts, tabletop displays, and posters. In 10th grade, Rebecca was in sewing service projects and contributed extra produce she grew to the local food shelf. She showed two new calves, Eva and Evvie, at multiple fairs and shows, winning the opportunity to show Eva at the Eastern States Exposition. Rebecca also became the 4-H youth representative to the UVM Extension State Advisory Board.
She continued as the 4-H youth representative into her junior year of high school while attending other youth leadership weekends and programs. During the summer, she contributed her time as a steward-in-training at Shelburne Farms Children’s Farmyard. She showed Eva and Evvie at several fairs and shows - once again winning the opportunity to show Evvie at the Eastern States Exposition - and donned a wool pea coat she had sewn at a spring fashion revue. Rebecca participated in the Vermont Dairy Quiz Bowl Team at the Eastern States Exposition and later traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to compete in the North American International Livestock Exposition.
Entering her senior year, Rebecca operated as the club reporter and contributed her time to Shelburne Farms Children’s Farmyard. While she modeled a matching skirt and top she had sewn at the spring fashion revue, the showing of her long-known heifer, Tiki, was even more impressive. Rebecca won Senior Fitting and Show Champion at a county show and Grand Champion Brown Swiss at the State 4-H Dairy Show, providing them both a showing at the Eastern States Exposition. By the end of her senior year, Rebecca had been accepted into undergraduate programs for animal science at the University of Vermont and Cornell. She graduated as co-valedictorian of her class, sharing the title with her close friend, Alice.
After her first year of college, Rebecca continued to show heifers and contribute back to 4-H and Shelburne Farms. Under the advice of veterinarians she knew through 4-H, Rebecca participated in the Cooperative for Real Education in Agricultural Management (CREAM) program at UVM. After years of hard work, studying, and leadership, Rebecca was admitted into the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell, one of the nation’s leading veterinary schools. Rebecca would become a large-animal veterinarian, beginning her professional career in Wisconsin. After moving back to her home state of Vermont, she joined a small animal clinic in Colchester.
It is clear the impact of 4-H on Rebecca’s life - her involvement with Shelburne Farms and 4-H led Rebecca to become a large-animal veterinarian. The experience and mentorship Rebecca received through 4-H, along with the leadership opportunities provided to her, helped propel her academic and professional career. She established many life-long connections and friendships through 4-H, many of whom she kept in touch with during adulthood. Rebecca bettered herself and those around her, living a life of service to her club, community, country, and world. While her passing is deeply tragic, she was loved by all who knew her.
To provide others with the experiences that shaped a large part of Rebecca’s life, the family has asked that you consider a donation in her honor to the Vermont State 4-H Foundation. The foundation aids in supporting many state, regional, and national programs for youth. Programs include dairy, sheep, goat, horse, gardening, engineering and math, teen leadership, and more.
Please note: if you use the donate button below, a small fee will be incurred from PayPal. If you prefer to have 100% of your donation go to all 4-H programs or a program of your choice, please send a check to:
Vermont 4-H Foundation
c/o Stefanie Pigeon
P.O. Box 8592
Essex, VT 05451
