How 4-H changed my life

I didn’t show livestock in 4-H.

Are you surprised? Many people think that is all 4-H offers, but as a product of Virginia 4-H I can confirm that is just a rumor.

My first 4-H experience was at Junior Camp. I was 12 or 13. My mom signed me up after our cousin, who was the county 4-H agent, mentioned me going to camp. We’d only moved to back to my mom’s hometown that year, so I didn’t know many people. I was not excited about spending a week of my summer living in a bunkhouse supervising a group of younger girls I’d never met. 

That week changed my life.

By that Friday, I wasn’t just a camper: I was a 4-H member. After that, I attended every camp I could. I signed up for the teen club, participated in presentations, and I gave a prepared speech on water safety — my first public speaking attempt. I gave the speech again at State 4-H Congress, where I placed third. I still remember the winner’s speech. Years later, she and I became Alpha Phi Omega fraternity brothers at Virginia Tech.

During my years as a member, I never showed livestock.  We lived in the city, and I don’t think our apartment complex would have appreciated a lamb in the backyard. The closest I got was our annual camping trip in a cattle pasture. 

Teamwork, leadership, marketing, event planning, public speaking:  All things I learned from being in 4-H.

When I went to college, I joined Collegiate 4-H. My chosen major of animal science was supposed to lead to a career as a large animal veterinarian. Instead, I changed paths and became an agricultural agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension. Without my experience in 4-H, I’d never have known Extension was a career option.

As an agent I finally got my chance to work with livestock.  Instead of leading an animal around the ring myself, I was able to work with 4-H members who were raising and showing livestock. 

It’s National 4-H week. This city girl can still recite the 4-H pledge and sing songs from camp. I still talk with people I met as a 4-H member. The path I walked to my current career started with 4-H.