Showing gratitude to the many generous 4-H supporters was the primary goal of the June 2022 Tennessee 4-H Ambassador Tour. The ambassador tour takes place each year with the top five Tennessee 4-H State Council officers, but this year’s included a sixth – At Large Scout officer.

The six officers who traveled throughout Tennessee were:

  • President Jim Jenkins of Hawkins County, who represents all of Tennessee 4-H and the whole of the state council
  • Vice President Isaac Chandler of Anderson County, who helps the president with their duties and represents the state council
  • Secretary Jarrett Tubbs of Henderson County, who takes minutes at state council, state events, and meetings
  • Governor Cade Simmons of Van Buren County, who presides and helps plan the State Congress event
  • All-Star Chief Anne Eddins of Knox County, who presides over State All-Star events
  • Representative at Large Katie Collins of Dickson County, who represents minority groups.

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During their travels, the ambassadors met with many of the top supporters of the Tennessee 4-H organization, giving a brief introduction of their involvement with 4-H. Each supporter then shared what has been occurring with their company or office over the past year. A question-and-answer session followed before moving into open dialogue. Officers enjoyed learning more about the supporting companies and offices, and they learned details about internships and jobs available for future 4-H’ers. In this year’s tour, they also heard first-hand about the struggles and challenges that everyone is still going through two years after the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“It is very important for us to go and visit these people so that they know whom they are supporting and know what we are doing because of their support,” says Anne Eddins, All-Star Chief.

Ambassador Tour Day 1

Beginning in Columbia, the ambassadors visited Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, then Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, followed by a meeting with Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett.

“One of the highlights of the tour for me was getting to know Secretary of State Hargett,” says Tubbs. “It’s not often that we get to meet with elected officials and have a chance to sit down with them to share our 4-H stories, get to know them and hear what they do for the state of Tennessee. He took us to an old Tennessee courtroom inside the capital and talked about his day-to-day work, which had a great impact on me.”

Ambassador Tour Days 2 and 3

On the second day of the tour, the ambassadors traveled to Cookeville, where they attended the Tennessee Tech Leadership Conference and visited Tennessee Farmers Cooperative.

The following day, they headed to Nashville where the group visited Advance Financial, Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Charlie Hatcher, followed by the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce. Ending the busy day, they toured Tennessee State University and later relaxed by enjoying a Nashville Sounds baseball game.

Ambassador Tour Day 4

The ambassadors drove to Lebanon, where they met members of the Tennessee Beef Industry Council over lunch and spoke with representatives from the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association.

“When we visit each supporter, we give a brief summary of what has been occurring with Tennessee 4-H over the past year, including grants that we have received and news that is important for our supporters to hear,” Eddins says. “We then have all six of the officers tell a three-to-five-minute introduction sharing their 4-H story and thanking them for their support.”

Ambassador Tour Day 5

On their last day, the ambassadors visited the Rutherford County Extension office before meeting with the Tennessee Wildlife Federation at the Nashville Gun Club. Ending the tour, the group met at a campsite in a cabin in Lebanon for the Tennessee State 4-H Council Meeting.

“These stakeholders have paved the way for me to be part of 4-H,” Tubbs says. “I started 4-H in fourth grade, and now I’m about to begin my first year at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in the fall. For the past eight years, they have given me opportunities and many memories with 4-H, and none of it would have been possible without their support.”