Tennessee 4-H Alumni & Friends Celebrates 50 Years

For 50 years, the Tennessee 4-H Alumni & Friends organization has brought together past and present with an eye toward the future.

Built on a network of volunteers passionate about 4-H, the alumni organization continues to support current 4-H’ers while connecting alumni with a shared love for the youth organization.

Since its beginnings in the early 1970s, the organization has evolved from a small but passionate group of alumni to a thriving network that continues to be strong to this day.

See more: The Tennessee 4-H Alumni and Friends Reunion is Fun for All Ages

Founding Folks of the Tennessee 4-H Alumni & Friends

In the early days of 4-H, once members aged out of the program after high school, they had few opportunities to remain involved. In the early 1970s, a group of Tennessee alumni, including Steve Parks, June Thompson, John Allen and Ruth Henderson McQueen, banded together to change that.

For John Allen, one of the charter members of what was first called Tennessee 4-H Alumni, an alumni organization was a key way to staying involved.

“That’s part of the reason that we got together,” Allen says. “Some of us just didn’t want to age out.” Allen recalls the time spent with the other charter members in his office, drafting the original objectives of the alumni organization, which have mostly remained the same.

Since 1975, Tennessee 4-H Alumni has been on a mission to create a network of alumni who are passionate about continuing to support the 4-H mission through mentoring, volunteering, judging and offering financial support.

Never Grow Out of 4-H

At the time, the Tennessee 4-H Alumni organization was the first dues-paying organization of its kind in the country, but it has since waived all fees for members. Its early motto, “Continuing Service,” is meant to inspire former 4-H members to give back to the organization that influenced their lives. Serving can take many forms, including coaching teams, supporting financially and more.

See more: Meet Tennessee 4-H Alumna Phyllis Ferguson

“You don’t ever have to graduate. There is always a role,” says Ruth Henderson McQueen, a charter member of the alumni organization and current board member. “One of the most important things is continuing to be involved and volunteer at the local and county level to support the organization and to give other young people the same opportunities that we had.”

Tennessee 4-H Alumni & Friends is Open to All

For many years, the alumni network was maintained by dedicated members like June Thompson, who sent handwritten correspondence to hundreds of alumni members. Technological advancements have since made it easier for alumni to get involved, and the organization has evolved to meet the changing needs of members and alumni.

In 2016, the organization expanded to include anyone who had not been previously involved in 4-H but was passionate about the effects it has on members and the community. By adding “& Friends” to its name, the newly named Tennessee 4-H Alumni & Friends organization welcomed adult volunteers, parents, industry leaders and community members to join the cause.

“Many of us have children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the program now,” says Marissa Brown, a former Robertson County 4-H’er and the first president of the new organization. “So we have an interest in 4-H continuing on.”

Recent alumni initiatives like the 4-H’ers Under 40 Program spotlight the achievements of former 4-H’ers. Those recognized will lead service projects in the community and attend monthly leadership meetings with the other honorees.

“The 4-H’ers Under 40 Program is also an excellent example for our younger 4-H’ers to say, ‘I can do this. It’s possible. They did it, so I can do it,” McQueen says.

See more: Discover Tennessee 4-H Alumni’s New 4-H’ers Under 40 Program

Bridging Generations

The multigenerational aspect of the alumni organization has created a richer, more diverse community. Alumni are involved in everything from volunteering at National 4-H Congress and State 4-H Roundup to attending the Picnic at the Fair, and their impact is widely felt. Examples include Brown restarting the Clover Buds program in her children’s school, Allen organizing regional alumni events across the state and McQueen continuing to serve on the board of the organization she helped found.

“We are part of something so much bigger than ourselves,” McQueen says. “We celebrate the 50 years that we’ve had to support the organization, and we look forward to the next 50 years because the needs are just as great.”