4-H transcends generations, and the Tennessee 4-H Alumni and Friends Reunion serves as proof.
The 2023 annual event, held in March at the Wilson County Expo Center in Lebanon, honored National 4-H Congress delegates from 1973, 1983 and 1993 and presented Martha Jo Tolley this year’s 4-H Alumni Leadership Award. Tolley is a professor emeritus and a former state 4-H leader who now serves on the Tennessee 4-H Foundation board.
Trousdale County Mayor Jack McCall, a former 4-H participant and longtime program supporter, presented the keynote address.
See more: Martha Jo Tolley Wins 2023 4-H Alumni Leadership Award
Looking Forward
In accepting the award, Tolley told the audience about a special Alumni and Friends volunteer event being planned for the centennial Tennessee 4-H Roundup celebration in July.
Alumni President Corinne Gould points out that this year’s reunion also coincided with the annual 4-H Volunteer Jam.
“This was the first time to combine the event with the Volunteer Jam, and the collaboration strengthened both events,” Gould says. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization, and this combo provided the increased opportunity to learn through workshops, gain inspiration, and visit with both old and new friends.”
Volunteer Jam brings together 4-H volunteers and professionals to share ideas and present practical information about county projects that are easily led by volunteers. This year’s event, also held at the Wilson County Fairgrounds, included 12 educational workshops and seven displays.
See more: Meet Corinne Gould, 4-H Alumni and Friends President
“There is no question that 4-H is only as strong as the people who support it,” Gould says.
She notes that participating in events like the Alumni Reunion, Volunteer Jam or both offers multilevel benefits.
“You benefit from the experience, and you strengthen the program for kids to participate, learn and grow for generations to come,” she continues. “Reunion attendance has steadily increased each year, with people seeing it as a chance to reunite with those who share the common bond of 4-H.”
Looking Back
“Tennessee was the first state in the nation to have an organization devoted to 4-H Alumni when Tennessee 4-H Alumni, Inc. was formalized in 1975,” Tolley says.
In 2016, the group evolved into the current Alumni and Friends Organization, and the first-ever reunion was held.
“At the reunion, you can expect to reconnect with old friends and meet fellow alumni who have also been a part of the 4-H program,” explains Christie Henderson, Extension assistant for 4-H Youth Development. “It’s a chance to reminisce about your time in 4-H, share stories and catch up on each other’s lives.”
Since the roots of the organization began in 1975, continuing service is its mission – and that has never changed.
Henderson says pairing the reunion with the Volunteer Jam created opportunities for workshops, presentations and speakers aimed at promoting personal growth, leadership skills and networking opportunities.
“The reunion as a whole is a social event to foster a sense of camaraderie among attendees,” she says.
This was the 50-year reunion for the 1973 National 4-H Congress delegates.
See more: 75th Tennessee 4-H Congress Celebrated a Diamond Anniversary
“Several of those attendees made the journey to their first alumni reunion,” says J. Mark Lowe, who was one of those delegates. He joined Wanda B. Hicks in offering a brief presentation with photos from Chicago, where the national event was held that year.
“As one of those Congress attendees, it was a special time to revisit one of the most amazing weeks of adventure in my life,” he says.
At the end of the event, many of the 1973 delegates made a pact to stay in touch with each other.
“For some, it had been 50 years since they’d seen each other, but 4-H transcends generations to create long-lasting relationships,” Lowe says.
Special guests included Extension Dean Dr. Ashley Stokes and State 4-H Leader Dr. Justin Crowe.
Event sponsors included Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, Tennessee Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Insurance.
A silent auction raised more than $3,300 to benefit Tennessee 4-H programs.