Dr Seitz grew up on a small farm in a Mennonite community near Paulding, OH. According to Dr Seitz, other than church activities, being involved in 4-H comprised her entire social life … is where she gained valuable life skills, made life-long friends, and enriched her formal education with practical applications for life.
Dr Seitz attended her first 4-H meeting in a bassinet as her Mom was a leader. While it is hard to believe today, Jan was very shy in her early years. She still remembers her leader coaxing her out of the car to give her first demonstration. “We will do it together Janice”, her leader said. Well, they did it together many times over the next few weeks with her leader doing less and less each time. In short, it was under the tutelage of this and other volunteer leaders that helped Dr Seitz conquer her shyness and gain confidence for all that was to follow.
Dr Seitz went on to serve as president of her club, gave demonstrations at the county and state fairs, attended 4-H camp, and completed a plethora of projects. Four members of her club formed a quartet that won the regional talent competition and was invited to perform at
the Ohio State 4-H Teen Conference. “To say this was an amazing experience for us farm girls would be an understatement!”
At age 46, Dr Seitz enrolled in the University of Illinois (UIUC) with the goal of completing both her masters and doctoral degrees. As she stood on the stage Spring of 1989 awaiting to be hooded with the colors of her doctoral degree, a major question flooded her mind … “Jan how in the world did you ever get here from that little country school and farm house that didn’t have indoor plumbing until your teen years.” Her answer … “My life in 4-H had everything to do with positioning me to complete this milestone.”
