A Chick Chain project was what catapulted then-fourth-grader Hadley Brown into the world of 4-H. Now, less than a decade after her first exchange with poultry, Brown’s involvement with Tennessee 4-H has carried her from rural Sumner County all the way to the campus of Harvard University and beyond.
“All of my immediate family participated in 4-H,” Brown says. However, it wasn’t until winning the Sumner County 4-H Public Speaking Competition in fifth grade that Brown realized how much she enjoyed speaking in front of audiences and how competitive she was. “I knew one day I wanted to win the State Public Speaking contest.”
She accomplished her goal in the 10th grade and went on to place fifth at the national competition. It was that first public speaking experience that truly launched Brown into a future of 4-H involvement.
“From there, I participated in everything,” she says. “Academic conference in middle school, all of the demonstration projects, I was on judging teams and participated in every level possible.”
Among her many other accolades, the four-time Master 4-H’er went on to serve as Tennessee 4-H Congress Governor and State Council President as well as being recognized as a Vol State recipient. Her favorite accomplishment was winning the State 4-H History Bowl. But her many achievements don’t hold a candle to the memories she made. At the local and regional level, she says the 4-H dances serve as highlights in her memory reel.
“That’s where all the fun happens locally,” she says. “I loved to dance and have fun with my best friends.”
The fun didn’t stop at the local level though.
“Our leaders prioritized showing us the world in ways we’ve never seen,” Brown says.
Through Tennessee 4-H, she was able to participate in exchanges with Hawaii and Alaska 4-H and attend the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Puerto Rico in 2022, but her all-time favorite experience was in the summer of 2023.
“I went with a group to represent Tennessee 4-H in Africa. We traveled to five countries in four weeks, and our role was to teach ag and STEM in rural public schools. It was a truly life-changing experience.”
One of the unexpected ways her 4-H experiences have impacted her life was by influencing her acceptance into Harvard University. After being accepted, Brown received a letter from Harvard sharing why they chose her.
“Mine specifically mentioned my leadership roles and my variety of cultural experiences and roles within 4-H,” she says.
While attending an Ivy League university so far away from rural Tennessee might be a little daunting for most, Brown approaches it boldly.
“After having global experiences, opportunities to speak in high school, and chances to interact with large crowds and well-known individuals, I don’t think anything could shake me,” she says. “Going in with that kind of confidence has made a huge difference.”
Currently majoring in government with an interest in pursuing law school and civil service, Brown has taken on this opportunity with more than just confidence.
“No matter what 4-H event was happening, we always served,” she says. “That’s really ingrained into who I am now. I am always trying to figure out how to serve and how to pass on what I’ve gained and learned and experienced. I’m grateful to have that perspective and attitude formed through my involvement in 4-H.”
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