Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Jehiel Oliver, an Ohio 4‑H alumnus who is leading ag innovation on a global scale. He is the founder and CEO of Hello Tractor, an agricultural technology company that connects tractor owners with smallholder farmers in need of tractor services. Under his leadership, Hello Tractor serves more than…
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Avery Williamson has quite an impressive NFL career that spans seven years. What’s also inspiring is his love of farming. The fourth-generation farmer and Tennessee 4‑H alumnus has a passion for agriculture, and he’s paying it forward to the next generation of diverse farmers. I caught up with Avery to discuss why…
Young leaders in every industry are using their voices and stories to create a legacy of success and inspire the next generation. Kyle Bridgeforth—partner at the fifth generation Bridgeforth Farms—is lending his voice and passion to the advancement of diversity in agriculture. Here’s how the Alabama 4‑H and Morehouse College alumnus is helping his family’s…
In life, there is only one constant: change. We cannot ignore it or resist it, and no matter how much we would like things to remain the same, change is inevitable. Sometimes, whether for good or for bad, we all reach a moment that changes the course of our lives forever. That moment came for…
In February 2020, 4‑H commemorated Black History Month by featuring the stories of 4‑H alumni and Cooperative Extension* leaders at 1890 land grant universities**. It was an honor to tell their stories and highlight the great work of their institutions. But so much has changed in the last year. Priorities have shifted, programs have realigned,…
Now more than ever, the world needs young people. We need their leadership, their compassion, and their drive. In fact, 78% of Gen Zer’s feel it is important to be seen as someone who stands up for what they believe in. For over 100 years, 4‑H has equipped young people with the skills they need…
Meet Dr. Robert Jones, Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a proud Georgia 4‑H alumnus, and member of National 4‑H Council’s Board of Trustees. A son of a sharecropper in the Jim Crow era of southwestern Georgia, he established himself as a successful scientist, renowned scholar, award-winning musical artist, and today, spearheads innovative research in…
For more than 100 years, 4‑H has helped young people develop the skills that led them to successful careers and contributions to their communities. Today, they are industry leaders, activists and experts who use their influence to pay it forward and help eliminate the opportunity gap for communities and kids across the country. To commemorate…
I’ve proudly recited the 4‑H pledge since I was 9 years old. But, much of my 4‑H experience has been unconventional. I’ve attended virtual 4‑H meetings before “Zoom” became a household name; completed fair projects from the St. Louis Children’s Hospital while waiting for a bone marrow transplant; attended conferences and helped judge fair projects…
Amid the challenges and obstacles of 2020, one thing we’ve learned is that we all are holding on to hope for a better future—even if that future is a month away. This sentiment is even more true for young people. For 118 years, 4‑H has been there to help all kids achieve their dreams and…