4-H has been a part of my life for over sixty years from a pre-4-H member to Assistant Director 4-H Youth Development and in retirement serving on the Arkansas 4-H Foundation Board. 4-H provided the opportunity for a very shy farm girl to recognize that everyone has abilities given the platform to shine. Early in my 4-H experience, around the age of ten, I realized that becoming a County Agent and working with 4-H was the career for me. Living your dream is considered a lucky happenstance by many, but for me, it was a result of the County Extension Agents and 4-H Volunteers who believed in me and taught me the life skills I needed to make that dream come true.
My 4-H experiences took me from rural Arkansas to Chicago, Washington D. C. and as a 4-H IFYE to the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and France. 4-H taught me that who you are is not defined by outward appearance or socioeconomic status, but by your intent and your actions. 4-H also taught me that while we cannot always “win”, we can always learn from our experiences. These lessons served me well when at the age of 26 and a new County 4-H Agent, I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Cancer may have changed my appearance, but thanks to 4-H; cancer could not change me. During my thirty plus year career with Extension working with the 4-H program, I did my best to give back; to show each 4-H member they were valued –that they had potential to realize their dreams. My 4-H story is not about ribbons or awards, but about smiles of confidence on young faces, about thousands of contributing members of society and about “Making the Best Better”.
