Hadley Brown’s 4-H Career Took Her All the Way to Harvard
Hadley 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.
Meet Board Member Glenn Thackston
It was an easy yes for Glenn Thackston when asked if he would consider serving on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee 4-H Foundation.
Spence Endowments Honor 42 Years of Volunteerism
B.D. and Marcella Spence dedicated their hands to larger service to the benefit of 4-H youth across Tennessee. They were the kind of couple who lived the 4-H Pledge by example. Those who knew the couple say it’s only fitting that their memories are kept alive with two endowments for Marshall and Maury county 4-H’ers honoring their service to the organization. Contributing to Camp Scholarships The B.D. and Marcella Spence Endowment provides scholarships for 4-H camps, including Pioneer Camp, Ag in the
2024 Tennessee 4-H Congress Recap
Franklin County was highlighted at this year’s 77th annual Tennessee 4-H Congress, as the newly elected Tennessee 4-H Governor, Speaker of the House and Speaker of the Senate all call the county home. Jadian Keith, Calli Alonso and Summer-Grace Kelly, this year’s newly elected Congress officers, also comprise a unique all-female ticket. The event, held March 10-13, 2024, at the Embassy Suites Nashville SE in Murfreesboro, was this year’s premiere Citizenship event, connecting ninth and 10th graders across the state. Students from
2024 Tennessee 4-H Congress Award Winners
During the 2024 Tennessee 4-H Congress held March 10-13, 4-H’ers from across the state came together to compete in various competitions, enjoy fellowship and participate in usual Congress activities. Congratulations to all adult and youth winners. Adult Awards 4-H Salute to Excellence and Volunteer of the Year Mike Glasgow from Cheatham County, who also won the U.S. Southern Region component for this award. 4-H Salute to Excellence, Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Melissa Graf from Jefferson County Brown/Gilliam Family Legacy Award The Hilliard Family,
Meet New 4-H Alumni President Joe Huffine
Incoming president of Tennessee 4-H Alumni Joe Huffine is a lifelong 4-H member. He grew up on his family’s farm in Jonesboro and joined 4-H as a student. “I started showing cattle in the fifth grade,” he recalls. “At the end of the show season, my parents asked if I wanted to do it again the next year.” He replied with an enthusiastic yes, but his parents told him that he would be responsible for buying his own heifer. By the time
Mattie Smith Advocates for Agriculture in D.C.
One of Mattie Smith’s favorite memories of growing up on her family’s farm in Ten Mile is of bottle-feeding an orphaned calf. Her agriculture background and 4-H career led her to Washington D.C. to advocate for agriculture. “I remember getting up at 5:30 in the morning, and I’d ride my bicycle across the road to my grandparents’ house, to the barn, and I would have a warm milk bottle waiting on me to feed it,” says Smith, a now 18-year-old 4-H’er. “Then
Tennessee Farmers Cooperative CEO Receives Friend of 4-H Award
As chief executive officer of Tennessee Farmers Cooperative (TFC), Shannon Huff is “incredibly humbled” to receive the Friend of 4-H Award but says he “feels bad about accepting it” because his company is the longtime and significant supporter of 4-H. “The award should be shared by everyone at the company,” Huff says. The Tennessee 4-H Foundation annually honors outstanding individuals who have gone above and beyond in supporting 4-H Youth Development by contributing time and resources to help young people enrolled in
4-H Alumni Reunion Reunites the Generations
Tennessee 4-H alumni and friends across generations gathered on March 2, 2024, at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Lebanon to reminisce, reflect and reconnect at the TN 4-H Alumni Reunion. “Most people, including myself, that had the 4-H experience growing up look back on that as making quite an impact on our lives,” says Kathy Finley, a member of the planning committee. “We like the opportunity to reminisce on that and share that experience with others. It’s a sense of pride and
Katie Collins Wins National 4-H Youth in Action Award
Dickson County 4-H’er and past 4-H State Council member Katie Collins is the first Tennessee 4-H’er to win the national 4-H Youth in Action Award. Collins has been active within 4-H since fourth grade. Her love for agriculture began on her family’s dairy in Dickson. She remained active into high school and wanted to share that passion with young people in the area, so she created the “See Yourself in Agriculture” program. Through her project, she mentored local middle school 4-H’ers interested