John Saturley’s simple lifelong motto, “Help people” served him well during his half-century in the lumber business. It has also served generations of Granite Staters, especially 4-H’ers, exceptionally well.

A native of Pembroke, where he lived for 65 years before moving to Chichester, John signed on as a 4-H leader in the depths of the Great Depression in the late 1930’s, "even before I was married and had children of my own.” John’s club members raised vegetables and chickens that helped feed their families. "There really wasn’t much else you could do in those days," he says.

This summer, John celebrates his 90th birthday in a unique way. On July 25, he is inviting all his friends and the public to a birthday celebration at Bear Hill 4-H Camp in Allenstown from 1:30-3 pm. John has requested that in lieu of gifts, friends help celebrate this occasion with donations to the 4-H Foundation of New Hampshire, specifically for 4-H Camp.

John developed his Help people philosophy during his years at Concord Lumber. “We had plenty of big customers, so we could afford to do the 10-minute jobs, take care of people’s small needs.” he says. John eventually married and had four children. Three of them joined 4-H and attended Bear Brook 4-H Camp. (After graduating from business school, John took a secretarial position with Concord Lumber Company in 1937 and stayed for 47 years, eventually rising to head the company as general manager and president.)

John always worked part-time helping his father on the North Pembroke dairy farm and describes his connection to 4-H as “just one of those things, something that went with my life.” His agricultural roots “attracted me to 4-H and kept me at it.”

Active with in the Grange, John rose to become New Hampshire Grange Master in 1968. In the early 1970’s, he served four years as a University of New Hampshire Trustee. As a longtime Rotarian, he represented the Concord Rotary on the board of Camp Spaulding, a camp for Merrimack County low to moderate income children, operated by NH Child and Family Services. The Concord Rotary Club just gave $1,500 in honor of John for projects at the 4-H camp.

John heard 4-H Program Leader Wendy Brock speak at the Foundation’s annual meeting. "She talked about Bear Brook camp needing some electrical work, and I figured I could do something about that." John solicited his own electrician, a former 4-H'er, to donate his labor, then “I asked a few friends I knew had a little money to spare.” He recently raised $5,000 for the projects and necessary supplies.

“When my electrician and I went out to the camp, I noticed four of the lodges needed some screen doors at both ends for cross-ventilation,” he says. On his own initiative, John also bought five new screen doors, fitted and installed them himself.

John says he gave up membership and leadership positions in formal organizations a few years ago, “because my wife and I wanted more time and freedom for our own projects.”  What sorts of projects? "Oh, painting and carpentry," he says. "My children are always calling me up for help with one project or another. Oh, yes, and we do a little vegetable gardening. I never did get away from the land.”

If you’d like to help John celebrate his 90th birthday at Bear Hill Camp on July 25, call UNH Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program Leader Wendy Brock at 603-862-2187 or email her at wendy.brock@unh.edu