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As we continue our spotlight of 4‑H Grown alumni and sharing the impact 4‑H has had on their lives, we are excited to celebrate a very special 4‑H alumna, Martha Ann Miller, who will be celebrating her 105th birthday on August 6!

Martha Ann Miller is a phenomenal woman who is a strong part of our 4‑H and American history. Through 4‑H, she was named the State Baking Champion at the young age of 14, being the youngest to receive the award in Indiana at the time. As a result, she received a scholarship to Purdue State University, earned a trip to Washington, D.C., and was one of many 4‑H’ers to meet President Calvin Coolidge in 1926.

As an adult, Mrs. Miller became a teacher in Virginia in 1952, where she taught at the first integrated school in the state.

“The principal asked the teachers if we would be willing to teach black students,” she shares in her book, The First Century, And Not Ready for the Rocking Chair Yet. “Some teachers refused. I personally felt it was an insult to be asked this kind of question, and I, of course, volunteered, considering it an honor to have the students in my classroom.”

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Martha Ann Miller (right) pictured with President Calvin Coolidge (1926)

In the past year, Martha Ann Miller has shared her story in USA Today, visited the National 4‑H Conference Center for the first time, and walked the green carpet at the 2016 National 4‑H Council Legacy Awards.
Happy Birthday, Martha Ann Miller! And thank you for continuing to share your support and passion as a 4-H Grown alum!
Lazarus Lynch is only 22, but he’s already making waves in the culinary world. Lazarus, whose father owned a restaurant, now offers healthier takes on classic soul food on his website, Son of a Southern Chef. He has appeared on the Food Network and the Cooking Channel, and he’s working on a cookbook. Unsurprisingly, he’s also a 4‑H alum.

Lazarus, who grew up in New York City, got involved with 4‑H as a sophomore in high school when he joined the group for a week in Washington, D.C., with other young leaders. “I remember on the last day, I cried because it was over,” he said. “I never looked back from there.”

At 22, Lazarus is now a youth member of the board of National 4‑H Council. “This is a group you’ll feel connected to forever,” he said. “I have lifelong friends because of 4‑H.”

We talked to Lazarus about how being a part of 4‑H helped him get where he is today.

How did being a part of 4‑H help you become a better leader?

Lazarus Lynch (LL): It taught me to be conscious of the world around me. That means taking note of the issues and the people around you and compassionately responding. Because being a leader is really about serving others.

4‑H also taught me how important listening is. When I traveled around New York, I would listen to the stories of kids who grew up on farms and whose parents were in 4‑H. I didn’t have that story, but I knew I could learn from them. Because at the end of the day we were all there for the same reason: We believed our voices mattered, and we believed in the ability of young people to respond to issues that mattered to us.

What makes 4‑H unique when it comes to growing true leaders?

LL: 4‑H believes in the possibility of young people. It teaches kids that we’re powerful, that we’re not broken, that we can do things—we can do great things.

It’s not just another after school program. It’s about creating a conversation that reflects service and that really inspires you to speak up. We were thinking about issues that others kids maybe had never thought about. Like, how will we feed 7 billion people by the year 2050? Or how do we use robotics and STEM to create different kinds of technologies for people with disabilities? Those were questions we were asking ourselves in high school.

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How is what you learned in 4‑H helping you become a leader in the culinary world now?

LL: 4‑H has taught me those soft skills you need to lead, like commitment and follow-through and responsibility. For example, my website, Son of a Southern Chef, requires my dedication and commitment. I think some people think it kind of happens organically, but there’s actually a lot of work that goes into it. So I use those skills every day.

It has also given me opportunities. Being a youth board member gives me a platform that I wouldn’t have otherwise, and I’ve met other board members I would not have gotten to meet otherwise. I’ve also worked for the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., where I was learning about the farm bill or speaking one-on-one with the secretary of agriculture.

Your father was a chef and a restaurant-owner, and you learned a lot from him. You even called your website “Son of a Southern Chef.” In what ways was he a role model for you when it comes to leadership?

LL: My father was a business-owner all my life. He only ever worked for himself. He had a sense of confidence and leadership that I took for granted for many years.

He taught me about believing in yourself, believing that your dreams matter, and believing that you’re capable of pursuing your dreams. My dad barely passed high school because in his senior year my oldest brother was born. That was a real challenge for him, and he overcame that. He didn’t relent. He went to work, and then he started his own business when he was, like, 22.

He showed me a lot about being a man— what a man looks like today: Someone who takes care of their family, who provides, who is a good listener, who is a good father. He was just second to none, and that’s the kind of dad I want to be for my kids one day.

4‑H believes that True Leaders are healthy leaders. Not only are young people speaking up when it comes to promoting health, but being healthy helps us all reach our full leadership potential.

For more on the connection between healthy living and leadership, we spoke with Becky Johnson, the executive director of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, a not-for-profit organization with the mission of ending childhood obesity. Johnson says that healthy habits help kids succeed in all areas of their lives.

What are the most important health habits to teach children?

Becky Johnson (BJ): Our motto at the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation is “healthy decisions that create healthy habits for life.” As a community – parents, schools, healthcare providers, government and non-governmental organizations – we need to educate and inform children and their families about making the best decisions when it comes to diet and physical activity and help them understand the long-term benefits of those decisions throughout their life. By providing families with the products, tools and information they need to achieve a healthy diet and active lifestyle, we are empowering them to establish patterns of behavior that will last a lifetime and that they can pass onto their children.

As for specific healthy lifestyle recommendations, individuals, especially children, should consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein and get 30-60 minutes of physical activity daily. However, it is important for adults and children to also understand that all foods in moderation can fit in a balanced diet and and healthy eating pattern.

How does embracing healthy living help kids learn to lead?

BJ: By embracing healthy lifestyle habits, children become role models for their peers. Peer-to-peer testimonials are a powerful tool in educating and informing other children about the importance of healthy lifestyle decisions. In addition, there is a connection between nutrition and physical activity and academic performance and behavior in children. Young people who have access to nutritious meals and the proper amount of physical activity perform better academically and have less absenteeism and behavioral issues than those who don’t.

What mistakes do most parents make when trying to promote a healthy lifestyle for their children?

BJ: At a very young age, children model their parent’s behavior. If they see mom and dad making healthy decisions and developing healthy habits, many children will adopt those habits as well. So the most important thing parents can do is make healthy decisions and be a role model for their children. Likewise, educating and informing their children about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle is a critical part of the communication process. By making healthy decisions and developing healthy habits, parents and children can avoid obesity and obesity-related diseases like diabetes, stroke and heart disease, and may have a healthier, longer and more active life.

What advice do you give to teens to encourage them to live healthy lifestyles?

BJ: That food and physical activity are fun! We have such a wonderful food environment in this country, and from cooking at home to dining out, there is tremendous access to healthy food choices that are good for you and bursting with flavor. Likewise, there are so many opportunities to get moving. Find the foods, culinary experiences and physical opportunities you enjoy and are passionate about and live life to the fullest.

What are the best things about 4‑H’s healthy living activities?

BJ: National 4‑H Council has been a wonderful partner for the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and does a tremendous job of promoting overall wellness – including diet, physical activity, mental health and personal safety. These activities build character, leadership and self-esteem that will serve children well now and throughout their adult lives.

4‑H is committed to helping youth across the nation respond to challenges every day in their communities and world. A key component of this is ensuring healthy minds for our 4‑H’ers. Given that ¾ of all mental health issues present themselves before age 24, and that only 1 in 4 Americans seek treatment for mental health issues, this work is more important than ever.

Last fall, we partnered with Text, Talk, Act to bring the conversation to our 4‑H programs. Due to the tremendous success, we are extending our partnership to make Text, Talk, Act available to 4‑H programs for your school and summer camp programming.

Text, Talk, Act uses text messaging to facilitate a face-to-face conversation on mental health. Participants gather in small groups (3-4 people) with one cell phone per group. They text START to the number 89800 to receive a series of text messages that guides their group through a conversation on mental health: why it is important, how to care for it, and how to help a friend in need. The text messages include videos, social media interactions, polling questions and discussion questions.

Throughout the month of June, 4‑H is teaming up to bring Text, Talk, Act to all of our 4‑H programs, free of charge*. Here are four things you can do to help out:

  1. TRY IT
    It’s easy! Simply text “START” to 89800 and follow the prompts. Text, Talk, Act is available for you to try right now.
  2. SHARE IT
    Share this information with your local 4‑H programs. Simply forward this announcement to program staff.
  3. HOST IT
    Bring Text, Talk, Act to your 4‑H program throughout the month of June. It takes less than an hour, and you can do it anytime that’s convenient for your group. Click here for tips on organizing Text, Talk, Act.
  4. WIN CASH PRIZES
    This June, Text, Talk, Act is hosting a 4‑H contest to win cash prizes for your state 4‑H program. Have your 4‑H programs join Text, Talk, Act in the month of June and your state could win $1,000! For more information, www.creatingcommunitysolutions.org/4-h-contest-information
    With your help, we will empower 4‑H’ers to raise awareness on mental health and become more comfortable reaching out to peers in need.

If you are interested in learning more about Text, Talk, Act, please contact Raquel Goodrich at rgoodrich@email.arizona.edu

This year, I am honored to be the recipient of the National 4‑H Youth in Action Pillar Award in Healthy Living as well as the overall National Youth in Action Award. As such, I had the incredible opportunity to be a part of Grow True Leaders Week, kick starting 4‑H’s national campaign to raise awareness for all the good work that 4‑H is doing.

The heart of 4‑H is its youth. During GTL Week, I was fortunate enough to meet some of the most inspirational and dedicated teens I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. My fellow Pillar winners—Lexie, Jacob and Thad—were shining examples of how 4‑H empowers us to recognize needs in our communities and innovate ways to address those needs. I met 4‑H alumni, for whom 4‑H was the springboard to chase their dreams. And I met 4‑H’ers, of all ages and from every imaginable corner of the nation, coming together to raise awareness.

The Youth Rally was an unforgettable experience, with energy radiating in every corner of the auditorium. I was able to share some statistics provided by 4‑H’s national survey, which revealed that America’s youth DO feel ready to lead; they just need the mentors to teach them how to do so. I know that 4‑H is perfectly poised to meet that need, with educational experiences for every interest.

Some of those educational experiences were showcased during the rally, from cooking classes to an Urban Gardening workshop to a honeybee lesson. It was wonderful to watch 4‑H’ers from across the nation learn and grow together.

I had an educational experience of my own: taking part in a Satellite Media Tour. Being in front of a camera on live television and radio was a little nerve-wrecking, but I was so excited to share my 4‑H story that the nerves disappeared as soon as the director mouthed “Live!” True to form, 4‑H gave me another chance to work on my communication skills as I helped celebrate the organization that has given me so much.

Grow True Leaders Week was an enriching culmination of incredible youth and dedicated volunteers, tied together with the undeniably vibrant spirit of 4‑H. I am so grateful for the chance to promote an organization that has been so instrumental to my growth.

I turned 18 this year, teetering somewhere on the edge of adolescence and the cusp of womanhood. Stepping forward into my future, I have an unlikely confidence in my future—a confidence that I have 4‑H to thank.

If I had to sum it up in one sentence: 4‑H guides us to blossom. And that is exactly what the national Grow True Leaders Campaign was all about.

I was honored to receive the 2016 Youth in Action Award in Agriculture and Animal Sciences. Ru, Thad and Lexie are outstanding 4‑H youth true leaders and I am pleased to have met them and respect them greatly.

I am deeply humbled by this recognition for my 10 years that I have spent in 4‑H. Surrounding myself with volunteers, club members and advisors that recognized my struggles without knowing the reason why, helped build my confidence and has catapulted me to where I am today. I hope to motivate those with learning difficulties to join 4‑H, to reach for that brass ring and attain success.

There are a lot of firsts: being one of the four Youth in Action pillar award recipients for 2016; being the first to win from the great state of Ohio; and of course informing others for the first time in my life about my past struggles with learning.

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There are a lot of firsts: being one of the four Youth in Action pillar award recipients for 2016; being the first to win from the great state of Ohio; and of course informing others for the first time in my life about my past struggles with learning.

The highlights included, of course, receiving the award at National 4‑H Council’s Legacy Awards, meeting the CEO of National 4‑H, Jennifer Sirangelo, meeting 4‑H Alum and singer Jennifer Nettles, and meeting Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell. At the Legacy Awards, I enjoyed spending time speaking with the Bayer Crop Science attendees and researchers and was able to thank them for their sponsorship. Meeting Ohio Congressman Steve Stivers was amazing. He took the time out of his busy schedule to speak with me about my award and what I did to receive this recognition. I could not forget how awesome it was for my younger brother, James, to win an acoustic guitar from Jennifer Nettles during the Legacy Award dinner.

Celebrating the Grow True Leaders Campaign with other 4‑H youth was historic. The energy and excitement that was felt by all those at the rally was electrifying. It was a once in a lifetime event and I am so proud to have been part of it.

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Over the past few weeks since receiving this award, I have come to realize how much the 4‑H organization has truly shaped my life, given me a purpose and a career path, inspired me to continue to achieve, and ultimately succeed. By participating in 4‑H locally, within the state of Ohio and nationally, I hope to achieve and succeed in expanding my leadership capabilities and to continue to serve as a positive role model to 4‑H.

To everyone that has helped me in 4‑H, thank you for planting the seed of 4‑H in me and inspiring me to make a difference. I am grateful for your life lessons and words of encouragement. Thank you for teaching me the blessings of leadership and service. 4‑H grows true leaders and I welcome others to get planted in 4‑H and join me.

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It feels fulfilling to be selected as the Youth in Action STEM Pillar award winner, sponsored by HughesNet. After years of learning, fun, and hard work, it is a great honor for the merits of my accomplishments as a 4‑H’er to be recognized on a national level.A greater honor than the award itself was to be able to network with everyone at the events during Grow True Leaders Week. Meeting with new 4‑H’ers, especially from different areas and walks of life, is always a pleasure.

Speaking at the Grow True Leaders Youth Rally was yet another way for me to inspire youth to reach higher. Immediately after the rally, fellow 4‑H’ers shared their STEM experiences with me. I am blessed, through 4‑H, with the ability to connect with other youth that share a passion and vision for a better world.

At the 4‑H Legacy Awards and other in-person meetings, the opportunity to interact with global businesses and 4‑H leaders was truly immense. Building my network with people who have a vision to improve the future and the tools and drive to do so will be valuable to both my personal future, and the future of my community and 4‑H clubs back home. Our partnership with HughesNet looks to be promising for promoting meaningful awareness, respect, and knowledge of STEM fields amongst youth.

I look forward to inspiring youth to get their hands on projects so they can learn meaningful skills for their future. If you don’t know about something, don’t be scared. Try it, and learn it.

It is an exciting time for 4‑H and I am proud to be part of the Grow True Leaders Campaign. I am so blessed to have been a part of Grow True Leaders Week and am honored to have been chosen as the national 4‑H Youth in Action winner in Citizenship. Thank you, National 4‑H Council, for making me feel so empowered. The week was an amazing experience and one that I will treasure for a lifetime. I went into our Media Training weekend unsure and a little nervous, but left with confidence and three new friends with amazing families. The Media Training weekend gave me a lot of insight on interviewing for television and radio.


I have always been proud of how 4‑H involves such a diverse group of people. I was amazed at the other pillar winners’ stories and enjoyed learning about their project areas. I am fortunate to have met Ru, Thaddeus, and Jacob. From the beginning we all really hit it off. They are what 4‑H is all about- growing true leaders!


During Grow True Leaders Week, my favorite experience was the Youth Rally. I really enjoyed teaching the Urban Gardening workshop and getting to know 4‑H’ers from around the nation! I also loved getting to tell my 4‑H story during the Satellite Media Tour with Jennifer Nettles and Miss America, Betty Cantrell.


The Gala was a beautiful event full of wonderful people who were gathered to celebrate and support 4‑H. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t nervous! I enjoyed being able to network at the event and watching the performances and presentations! It was very humbling when it came time to watch my video and receive my Youth in Action Award.

I am so excited to see what the future holds and can’t wait to encourage our youth to reach for the stars and work to obtain whatever their dreams may be! All it takes is someone to ask us to step up and be a leader.

Jennifer Nettles on 4‑H

Watch Jennifer’s “green carpet” interview from the 2016 4‑H Legacy Awards.

Grammy Award-winning singer and 4‑H alumna Jennifer Nettles spoke to youth leaders on Tuesday, April 12, during 4‑H Grow True Leaders Week at the National 4‑H Conference Center in Washington, D.C. Nettles also presented at National 4‑H Council’s 7th Annual Legacy Awards and attended 4‑H’s Congressional Breakfast where she introduced National Youth in Action Winner Ruwanthi Ekanayake.

The singer, who rose to fame as part of the band Sugarland and is preparing to release a solo album, said she would not be where she is in the music industry without opportunities she received through 4‑H.

When she was in sixth grade, Nettles joined the Georgia 4‑H performing arts group, Clovers and Co. “For me I think that was pivotal in helping me become the leader and the artist I am today,” she said. “I learned so much about shows, music, putting on a show, building a show and all these things that continue to serve me in my work today.”

The group also gave her opportunities she would not have had otherwise, including her very first airplane ride, when she went to Chicago to perform at the 4‑H National Congress.

"It set the ground work very early on for what it means to get serious, and at the same time it was the first time I was surrounded by kids who were like me, who had dreams in the performing arts. That was a big deal for a little girl from a small town."

4‑H is still offering a variety of leadership opportunities for kids today, Nettles said. “What it did for kids when it first originated in terms of agricultural science it now does in terms of computer science and other things like graphic design and performing arts,” she said. “I’ve meet kids this week who so impressed me, who were so articulate in their projects, everything from healthy living to the STEM program, robotics, all of this.”

One of those kids was 12-year-old Callista Clark, a current Clovers and Co. member. Clark joined Nettles onstage on Tuesday to duet on “Baby Girl,” Nettles’ hit song with her trio, Sugarland. The duo later reprised their performance at the Legacy Awards Gala.

Nettles said that she urges kids who want to explore a variety of topics and projects to get involved in 4‑H. The programs help kids figure out what they’re interested in, introduce them to others with the same interests and support them in learning more about it.

“What I think 4‑H does best is it encourages kids to explore and find their passion,” Nettles said. “I think that’s important because that – having passion – is what creates a great leader. You can’t have good leadership if you’re not passionate about what it is that you’re leading people toward.”

This year’s event kicked off 4‑H’s new Grow True Leaders Campaign. The campaign is aimed at giving kids opportunities to develop life skills so they’re prepared to become the leaders they need to be in their lives today and aspire to being the future.

While a majority of students in a recent 4‑H survey said they felt obligated to be leaders, most said they felt they did not have the skills needed to lead. When asked about why they are not leading, most said this was simply because they had never been asked to lead or been given an opportunity to lead.

4‑H’s Grow True Leaders Campaign will give kids opportunities to voice their opinions by asking them about the problems that are most pressing to future generations and bringing teams of young people together to come up with solutions. Adult allies can support the campaign by shouting out youth leaders at www.4‑H.org/SHOUT.

So what does Jennifer Nettles say it takes to be a leader?

“Charisma, the ‘It factor’ and some sort of integrity compass,” the country singer said.

As the youth leaders who met her can attest, this proud 4‑H alumna certainly has all three!

After receiving more than 250 outstanding submissions from youth across the country, National 4‑H Council is proud to announce the four winners of our Youth in Action Awards. These four youth exemplify the life skills 4‑H’ers are mastering across the country and the types of lasting impact 4‑H’ers are having in their families and in their communities. It is our honor to formally introduce these true leaders as they will serve as ambassadors for the collective 4‑H movement over the next year and showcase nationally what it means when we say, true leaders aren’t born, they’re grown.

The 2016 Youth in Action Award winners are:

Agriculture and Animal Sciences

Jacob Shuman, through Ohio State University Cooperative Extension, is the 2016 Agriculture and Food winner. He earned this award by creating TEACH B’s (Teens Educating Adults and Children about Honey Bees), a program that educates people about the importance of honeybees in pollinating crops and the need to help them survive in changing climates.

Citizenship

The winner of the 2016 Citizenship pillar is Lexie Lerblance, through Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension. As her 4‑H Project of Excellence, Lexie created TLC Wig Closet, a non-profit that provides wigs, head coverings, bras and prosthesis for women suffering from breast cancer. Through her 4‑H experience, she has spoken at the Pink Ribbon Luncheon and gave presentations to the Federal Board of Education.

Healthy Living

Ruwanthi Ekanayake, through University of California Cooperative Extension, is the 2016 winner in the Healthy Living pillar, sponsored by Molina Healthcare. As a member of the National 4‑H Healthy Living Ambassador team, Ru has been instrumental at bringing 4‑H’ers across the country together. She has also launched The Fourth H blog and created a Healthy Living Youth Summit for nine counties in Southern California.

STEM

This award, sponsored by HughesNet, is awarded to Thaddeus Hughes, through University of Illinois Cooperative Extension. Thaddeus has been a mentor for FIRST Lego League and Illinois State Robotics Competition teams for four years. Over the course of his work in 4‑H, he has helped to introduce STEM and robotics to more than 6,000 youth across Illinois.