Meet the 2025-2026 Tennessee 4-H Congress Officers

The Tennessee 4-H Congress is an annual tradition that allows 4-H students from across the state to unite and learn more about their state government while making new friends. At this year’s congress, held March 9-12 at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, a new group of officers was elected to serve on a state level and lead the 2026 event. The newly elected 2025-2026 Tennessee 4-H Congress Officers share a common goal of spreading the word about 4-H and giving back to the organization that has served them throughout their school careers.

Harrison Crenshaw, Governor

While Harrison Crenshaw didn’t fully immerse himself into everything that 4-H has to offer until high school, his brief 4-H career has already catapulted him into the role of Congress Governor. Crenshaw, a sophomore at Franklin County High School, started 4-H in the fourth grade, like most students, but only within the past couple of years has he begun to get more involved. He now serves as an example that it is never too late to start.

“Now that I know all that comes with 4-H, it’s amazing,” Crenshaw says.

When his Franklin County 4-H agent, Hunter Isbell, encouraged him to run for governor, Crenshaw jumped at the opportunity. During his term, Crenshaw aims to promote awareness of the program and all it has to offer.

“I really want to focus on expanding 4-H,” Crenshaw says. “I didn’t know the magnitude of 4-H and what all you could do through it. And I think getting that message out to younger kids and letting them know what it’s all about would be a great thing to do.”

As Crenshaw looks towards his own future, including applying for college at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville for agricultural business, he can take the confidence from the lessons he has learned and the people who have supported him along the way.

“4-H has had a huge impact on my life,” Crenshaw says. “I’ve learned so much about how to go about my future, about how to make the right decisions for my future and just taking the right steps on the way.”

Kaylin Osterhaus, Speaker of the Senate

Lincoln County’s Kaylin Osterhaus was no stranger to 4-H growing up; her mother served as a 4-H agent, and her family’s agricultural background influenced her to join the program in fourth grade. Since then, her 4-H successes have included Quiz Bowl and various judging contest wins, as well as her current role as Speaker of the Senate.

“I’ve always dreamed of being on State Council to be able to give back to 4-H,” Osterhaus says.

While Osterhaus’s focus has been on agriculture, she has also been involved in archery and consumer decision-making through 4-H to keep her interests well-rounded. Showing others that there is something for everyone in 4-H has become one of Osterhaus’ main goals as speaker.

“I want to be able to show people that it doesn’t matter what your background is, you can try anything,” Osterhaus says.

In her new role, she will help advocate for 4-H to other organizations across the state, from meeting with members of the Farm Bureau to talking with sponsors and donors about the importance of the program. Having made friends from every county at Congress, Osterhaus also understands her responsibility towards the 4-H’ers who elected her.

“In this new position, I’m not only leading this current group of 4-H’ers but also paving the way for 4-H’ers that are coming after me and just really opening up doors for other people,” Osterhaus says. “I want to be able to see that I helped somebody else to be able to come and have the experiences that I did.”

Mehak Patel, Speaker of the House

Hailing from Franklin County, Mehak Patel was inspired by last year’s ticket of all Franklin County officers to make her own bid for Speaker of the House. A freshman at Franklin County High School, Patel ran on the slogan “Join the Pack with Mehak” and earned the confidence of fellow 4-H’ers across the Central Region and then the state.

Starting out with public speaking in fourth grade, Patel quickly developed an interest in Clover Bowl, going on to win the regional Clover Bowl competition in sixth grade. Patel believes that the leadership and public speaking skills she learned along the way will aid her greatly as she pursues a career in the medical field.

“I used to be very shy, and 4-H has let me open up, talk more and experience different things that I think will definitely help me later on,” Patel says. “4-H has made me a better person overall.”

At Congress, Patel and other 4-H’ers had the opportunity to vote on bills in the House and Senate Chambers at the State Capitol. Bill topics included everything from cell phone usage in schools to driver’s license renewal tests. This mock session helped the 4-H’ers learn more about how the state government works at the ground level.

Patel hopes her term as Speaker of the House will inspire even more students to join 4-H and follow their dreams, just as the previous cohort of Franklin County representatives inspired her.

“I’m just excited for the next year, and I’m super grateful that I’m able to represent all the 151,000 4-H’ers,” Patel says. “I’m just looking forward to all of it.”