Chevy Chase, MD (October 4, 2021) – In celebration of National 4-H Week, National 4-H Council today announced that Tashina Red Hawk, 17, of Mission, South Dakota, is the winner of the 2022 4-H Youth in Action Award for Agriculture, sponsored by Bayer. Red Hawk is recognized nationally for her drive to inspire her peers and give back to her Rosebud Sioux Tribe community through charitable veterinary work. Launched in 2010, the 4-H Youth in Action Awards honor 4-H’ers who have applied the knowledge gained in 4-H to create a lasting impact in their communities.
Red Hawk recognized at an early age that while caring for the animal nation was important to her tribe, many people living on the Reservation did not have the financial means to care for their pets. The Rosebud community faces economic hardships, and many people struggle to provide for their families, let alone their pets. When she saw the opportunity to help her community through the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Animal Clinic, she immediately got involved. Red Hawk has been an integral volunteer for the last three years at the monthly charitable spay, neuter, and vaccination animal center. Through Red Hawk’s impactful leadership, she has risen through every possible role at the clinic – from her early days conducting pet registration to the responsibilities of surgical assistance and managing youth volunteers today.
This volunteer work has solidified Red Hawk’s passion for veterinary science, although she credits 4-H for her eagerness to learn, confidence to lead others, and desire to give back to her community.
“The leadership and confidence 4-H has instilled in me has been life-changing,” Red Hawk explains. “I could study and read about animal science all day, but without 4-H I would still be too scared to lead our youth volunteers or step up in surgery at my young age. 4-H gave me my love of understanding animals, but more importantly, it gave me people skills – to work with others, give vet science presentations, answer patients’ questions, and be engaged in my community.”
A senior in high school, Red Hawk plans to continue her education to earn her doctorate in veterinary medicine. She intends to return home to her Reservation and open and operate a full-time charitable animal clinic.
“Tashina is a stellar example of a young person who has taken her passion for animals and her community and built skills to create a pathway for a long-lasting and fulfilling career goal like veterinary science,” said Jackie Applegate, President of Bayer Crop Science North America. “At Bayer, we are proud to support many young people – just like Tashina – as they learn and develop leadership skills that can make a positive difference in agriculture and in our world in the years ahead.”
Red Hawk will receive a $5,000 scholarship for higher education and will serve as an advocate and spokesperson for 4-H Agriculture programming. She is joined by three other 2022 Youth in Action Pillar Winners, Brianna Attey Mouanjo of New York (Civic Engagement), Kristin Osika of New Jersey (Healthy Living), and Dhruv Rebba of Illinois (STEM).
To learn more about the 4-H Youth in Action Awards and to view the other pillar winners from around the country, please visit: Here.
