Gordon Hibbard, president and chief executive officer of the Kansas 4-H Foundation, announced plans to retire from his position with the statewide non-profit organization on April 7, 2014.

Gordon Hibbard, president and chief executive officer of the Kansas 4-H Foundation, announced Monday his plans to retire at the end of 2014.

“While I’m very grateful to the Foundation’s trustees and staff for their support, it is time for me to step aside,” Hibbard said. “I want to pursue other interests and allow someone else the opportunity to provide leadership for the Foundation’s future.”

The Kansas 4-H Foundation, the nation’s largest 4-H foundation, provides private support and services for 4-H. Its projects include Rock Spring 4-H Center, the nation’s largest privately owned and operated 4-H camp and conference facility, and support for awards, scholarships and other items.

“The Foundation–and indeed, Kansas 4-H–benefitted immensely from Gordon’s vision and leadership,” Lee Borck, chairman of the Foundation’s board of trustees said in a news release. “He accentuated the ‘to make the best better’ in the 4-H motto while leading the Foundation during his tenure, particularly in the recent successful Growing Kansas Leaders Campaign that generated $12.8 million for Kansas 4-H and exceeded the $10 million goal. We are grateful for the strong position he will leave the Kansas 4-H Foundation in upon his departure.”

In the release, Borck said the foundation’s board would discuss the process for selecting Hibbard’s successor in late April.

Before working with the foundation, Hibbard worked with the Kansas Farm Bureau for 21 years, including four as administrative vice president.