4‑H Legacy Awards

For more than 40 years, Microsoft has empowered people and organizations across the world to achieve more through technology. This mission is showcased by their commitment to closing the digital divide through the Airband Initiative – extending broadband access to millions of Americans living in rural areas by June 2022.

As part of this initiative, Microsoft and 4‑H are working together to inspire teens nationwide to be digital leaders, providing them with the skills to transform their local communities and help drive adoption. Microsoft and 4‑H have created the Tech Changemakers program to leverage 4‑H’s national reach, local impact, and youth leaders to educate the public, increase consumer confidence in technology and uncover the opportunities available through broadband adoption.

Growing up on her family’s farm, Janya Green knows first-hand about agriculture and the challenges America’s farmers face.  Her interest in agriculture channeled into a passion for service when she met Sam, her 4‑H mentor, who not only exposed her to a budding community garden initiative but also opened her eyes to a world of opportunities through 4‑H. Through the program, Janya developed leadership skills and found her voice as she stepped up to lead the Village Community Garden in Worth County, Georgia. As the garden manager, Janya provides the community with nutritious foods to combat the obesity epidemic and other nutrition-related diseases. The garden is also a platform to educate local farmers about new technologies like aeroponic towers.

The passion for helping others that Janya developed in 4‑H became her purpose when she sensed the confusion that arose after Hurricane Michael ravaged farms across Southwest Georgia. She aims to pursue a career in agricultural law, allowing her to invest in the future of agriculture while representing farmers — like her grandfather — particularly when tragedies strike. Janya is a junior at Worth County High School and after graduating, she plans to begin her education at Fort Valley State University. Janya is the 2020 4‑H Youth in Action Agriculture Pillar Winner, sponsored by Bayer.

Breanna Burkhead became passionate about art through the 4‑H Art Club at her local art center. But when the art council lost use of the art center building, the future of art in the community was in jeopardy. When Breanna heard a public meeting would be held to discuss the future of the art center, she knew she wanted to be part of the solution. Using the research, planning and communication skills she developed in 4‑H, Breanna presented a solution to the council for a new building that would provide space for artist studios and exhibits, and also for revenue-generating classes, a gift shop, and more. The council voted to purchase the building and elected Breanna as an executive board member, and she quickly got to work. She wrote and received a grant, mobilized volunteers for renovations, and planned classes and camps to be housed at the new art center.

The art center opened in June 2019 and has offered more than 30 classes, 2 art camps, homeschool art courses, a veterans’ project and more. Breanna hopes to attend Western Kentucky University to study Agricultural Education and minor in International Studies, with the goal of becoming a 4‑H professional. Breanna is the 2020 4‑H Youth in Action STEM Civic Engagement Winner.

At just nine years old, Micah Palacios was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune disease that attacked her hair follicles. Before her 10th birthday, she lost 75% of her hair and, most importantly, lost her self-confidence, leading to anxiety and depression. But the older 4‑H’ers in her club built her confidence by assuring her that despite her hair loss, she was no different than anyone else. In 4‑H, Micah learned to embellish hats, scarves and bandanas that covered her hair and helped her relieve stress in a healthy way. She also learned about proper nutrition and how to eat a well-balanced diet to improve her energy. These experiences motivated Micah to lead the 4‑H food & nutrition and health projects in her community, but she sensed something was missing.

After taking a National Alliance on Mental Illness class, she started to make changes in the way she interacted with others. Now, she has launched the Navigating Your Thoughts program for Bexar County 4‑H Clubs and military base programs, with the goal of reducing mental health stigma. Micah is a senior in high school and hopes to pursue a career in public health. Micah is the 2020 4‑H Youth in Action Healthy Living Pillar Winner, sponsored by Martha and Tino Bernadett.

Joseph Huff became passionate about helping people in need as he watched his father, a stroke survivor, struggle to use his stroke-affected right hand. As that passion was growing, Joseph began to get involved in 3D printing through 4‑H. Little did he know, these two seemingly disconnected events would soon come together in a powerful way when he watched his mentor print a prosthetic hand for a young boy at the fair. At that moment, Joseph realized he could help people – like his dad – by combining creativity with science to create life-changing prosthetics for those in need. Joseph launched an initiative to 3D print and assemble dozens of prosthetic hands for children in need and has mentored even more youth to teach them to do the same. Bringing the project full circle, Joseph is now in the process of creating a new device to help his dad regain some use of his weak hand.

Joseph is a senior in high school and will soon graduate with his associate’s degree. He plans to pursue a career in mechanical engineering. Joseph is the 2020 4‑H Youth in Action STEM Pillar Winner, sponsored by HughesNet.