Where are you from and which county program do you belong to?
I am from Anderson County, Tennessee, where I have lived all my life. Accordingly, I am part of the Anderson County 4-H program.
How did you first become involved with 4-H?
I started 4-H in eighth grade when a local farmer let my brother and sister show some of his hogs. That kind of got my whole family started in 4-H.
Tell us a little bit about you and what sorts of hobbies you have outside of 4-H.
A few of my hobbies outside of 4-H are horse riding, hiking and climbing trees.
What leadership roles have you held in 4-H before Congress?
I was a county ambassador before I was elected to Congress Speaker of the Senate but other than that, Congress was my first time serving in a leadership role, like my first rodeo.
Why did you want to run for a 4-H Congress Officer position?
I wanted to run for an office at 4-H Congress to build my leadership abilities. Not to mention campaigning was super fun and I got to meet so many cool people.
Which projects do you compete in and which is your primary focus?
I’ve competed in both the veterinary science and entomology projects, but my main focus is vet science.
If you could give a piece of advice to a younger 4-H’er, what would it be?
I would advise younger 4-H’ers to get out of their comfort zones and meet new people. Take every opportunity to grow and learn from winning and failure.
Who has been your biggest influence in 4-H?
My biggest influence in 4-H would have to be my older brother. From coaching me in showmanship to giving me campaign and livestock judging advice, he has helped me sharpen some of the skills I have gained in 4-H.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are not really nailed down yet, but I would like to go into large animal science or equestrian science.
How does it feel making history with Congress being postponed?
To be honest, I was a little upset at first, but I guess it will be pretty cool to have probably the longest Speaker of the Senate terms in 4-H congress history.