Through the years, Raleigh Brooks has given constant support to traditional 4-H programs and participants and helped create many programs for non-traditional and at-risk youth, their teachers and parents. Whether in these programs or the traditional farm/ranch, science, or home economics program areas, his goal was to build youth instead of jails. In 1956 Raleigh became the Agricultural and 4-H Agent in Pueblo County. He held this position until 1961, when the Extension Director asked him to serve as Assistant State 4-H Leader at CSU. He earned his MS in Education in 1968, with his thesis titled “Learning Climate For 4-H”. Raleigh was appointed State 4-H Leader in 1980 and served in that position until his retirement in 1988.
Brooks’ many state duties included coordinating international 4-H programs and extension international exchanges, initiating the Community Pride program with support from Chevron Oil, coordinating the National Western Stock Show program for 4-H and building the Catch-A-Calf program, coordinating the 4-H Roundup program which he helped expand to over 25 states, coordinating 4-H state fair activities, coordinating national awards for National 4-H Congress, Citizenship-Washington Focus and National 4-H Conference and guiding the Colorado 4-H Youth Fund. He has planted and sold crops of sweet corn and pumpkins to fund local charities and CSU Collegiate 4-H. Raleigh and his wife Edith are active members of Timnath Presbyterian Church and sing in the choir.
