Verneil Mardell Anderson was born on January 14, 1930, to Mr. and Mrs. Orland A. Anderson of Thompson, Iowa. Anderson graduated from Thompson High School in 1948. While in school, she joined 4-H and became a member of the King TNT 4-H Club. She was elected President of her club and Secretary/Treasurer of the 4-H Girls’ Club of Winnebago County, entered the 4-H Fashion Revue at the Iowa State Fair in 1948, and was named outstanding girl in Winnebago County 4-H in 1948.

Verneil received her B.S. in accounting from the University of Iowa. She married Donald H. Branstad also of Thompson, Iowa. Donald received his B.S. (1951) in electrical engineering from Iowa State College (University). Currently (as of 2010), the Branstads reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This collection (1939-1950, undated) contains the 4-H records of Verneil (Anderson) Branstad and includes newspaper clippings, photographs, programs, a project book, record books, and ribbons. The record books document projects Branstad completed on clothing, home furnishing, and nutrition and food preservation. Photographs show Branstad presenting a dress at the Iowa State Fair and displaying her home furnishing project outside in front of her home. Programs include events Branstad attended or participated in during her 4-H career and include Winnebago County 4-H achievement shows and rally days, state 4-H conventions and rally days, and the Iowa State Fair. The news clippings document her career in 4-H and also that of her husband, Donald.

Additional collections related to 4-H include:

• Iowa 4-H Records (RS 16/3/4)
• Story County 4-H Clubs (Iowa) Records (RS 16/3/4/3)
• Iowa 4-H Foundation Records (RS 16/3/7)
• Jesse Field Shambaugh Collection (RS 16/3/60)
• James Kearns Papers (RS 16/3/66)

The collection is organized alphabetically.