With over 63 years of 4-H involvement, alumnus and volunteer Carrol Martin has a personal connection to much of the state’ 4-H legacy. The child of displaced Dust-Bowl farmers, Carrol started his 4-H life under his mother’ volunteer leadership at the age of nine in Bayfield, CO. His projects included public speaking, square dancing, beef, sheep and dairy. Carrol put himself through school with his 4-H market livestock auction funds, and first volunteered as a 4-H leader working with children from local potato farms. While volunteering in Bayfield, Carrol met and married JoAnne, the local Extension Agriculture Agent, and in 1951 drove to Alaska with his new family.
Carrol’ many innovations include the first Alaska 4-H market livestock auction, annual district-wide farm tours, service learning projects such as Clean up Days where 4-Hers cleaned 25 miles of community roads, and the cultural partnering of 4-H youth with the local Ninilchik Native Tribe in the restoration and renovation one of the Tribe’ oldest historical buildings. In 1978 Carrol helped organize the first Western Regional Leaders Forum to be held in Alaska, helped plan the 1991 Alaska WRLF, and played instrumental support roles in the Alaska WRLF delegations in several years. Carrol has selflessly brought vision and innovation to Alaska 4-H and inspired generations of 4-H’ and community members.
