INVESTING IN YOUTH FASHIONABLE Clothing Project Leads to Career and 4-H Two Stores Also Inside: 4-H Member Spotlight Lone Oaks Master Plan Update Partner Spotlight And More! 2017 ANNUAL REPORT INVESTING FOR LIFE: THE TENNESSEE 4-H FOUNDATION The 4-H theme for last year was “Let’s Grow,” and how appropriate that proved to be. The Tennessee 4-H Foundation passed the $12 million milestone in assets for the first time in its history. The realization of that goal translates into more income from endowment accounts, which means more funds are available to support 4-H program opportunities. It is important to remember however, that the base of the 4-H program is at the local level. The first opportunity that a young person has is to join a 4-H Club, either in their school or community. This past year, the Tennessee 4-H Foundation inaugurated programs to not only increase the number of county endowments, but to also increase fund balances in existing accounts. A majority of the counties in Tennessee have chosen to participate in one or more of these efforts, which also emphasize teamwork among agents, volunteers, donors, members and the 4-H Foundation staff. The goal is to assure that resources are available to deliver a quality program to all participants. The 4-H Foundation Board is indebted to Executive Director Ryan Hensley for his leadership in planning and executing these new initiatives. The Tennessee 4-H Congress theme in 1968 was “Reaching Out.” I know this because, as I write this article, I am holding in my hand the program that was given to me when I registered for that event. The last five decades have passed quickly, but that 4-H Congress remains a vivid memory for me, and was a pivotal experience in shaping the rest of my life. My attendance at that event was made possible by the 4-H Foundation funding the state program and a committed Extension Agent in Loudon County, who raised my $75 registration fee from local donors. As I have said before, I did not attend 4-H Camp because the $12.50 might as well have been $1 million, so you can understand how out of reach the 4-H Congress fee would have been. This investment sparked my motivation to be a 4-H and Extension participant and supporter as well as a UT Alumna. The project skills, and especially the life skills of citizenship, leadership, public speaking and parliamentary procedure, have proved to be invaluable in my adult life – and are ones that I continue to use and practice each and every day. And yes, I still have my 4-H Congress sweater and my (mediocre) 4-H Record Book – but along with the skills that I learned, I also have a lifetime of relationships, friendships and memories. It is about the 4-H program, but that program is made up of PEOPLE – those who taught, shared and guided each of us. Now is our time to give back the return on their INVESTMENT. Ruth Henderson McQueen 2 Greetings from the Tennessee 4-H program! 2017 was an exciting year for 4-H. Through the efforts of our staff, volunteers and donors, we were able to bring life- changing experiences to over 180,000 Tennessee youth. These members honed their leadership, citizenship, communication, and project-specific knowledge and skills in order to prepare themselves to be positive change advocates in their communities and future workplaces. A special emphasis in 2017 was the development on new 4-H curricula for both school and community clubs. A life skills model was developed and competencies determined for each of our major project areas. Lesson plans were then developed for use by agents and volunteers, which emphasized research-based experiential education. Our campus-based faculty are working hard to revise and develop new materials focused on ever-increasing knowledge and skill development for project work as a member gains more experience in their chosen project. The hard work of our outstanding high school members was recognized on a national level last year. Numerous state-level winners went on to receive national awards, in many cases the top national award, in areas like public speaking, livestock judging, wildlife judging, shooting sports, consumer decision-making, and various skill-a-thon teams. Tennessee continues to have the reputation as one of the best 4-H programs in the country. To accomplish all of the these things, and many others that space does not allow me to highlight, takes funding beyond that provided by our governmental support. Your donations are critical to providing state-level events, scholarships, national trips, competitions, awards and opportunities to develop cutting-edge educational experiences that change the lives of our members. For that I say a big thank you. You are truly helping “Make the Best Better!” Richard Clark Assistant Dean, 4-H Youth Development CONTENTS 2 | National 4-H Hall of Fame 6 | Fashionable 4-H 10 | News & Notes 13 | 2017 Giving 4 | 4-H Member Spotlight 9 | A Lasting Legacy 12 | Hall of Fame Donors 17 | Financials 1 NATIONAL 4-H HALL OF FAME n 2002, the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents created the National 4-H Hall of Fame in conjunction with 4-H’s centennial year celebration. The National Hall of Fame honors laureates who have Imade major contributions to 4-H at the local, state and national levels. Tennessee boasts seven members of the National Hall of Fame. These volunteers, supporters and staff have made remarkable contributions to our program and are deserving of this major accomplishment. BEN POWELL (2002) MARTHA JO TOLLEY (2006) PEGGY MUSTAIN ADKINS (2011) “4-H encourages you “I learned to value “4-H has kept my to set goals, provides the never-ending head filled with great opportunities to help talents and abilities things for 50 years you meet these goals of today’s youth and and I am grateful.” and then recognizes to try to guide those you for meeting the talents and abilities 4-H never had a goals. Recognition to help them make a better friend than comes in many ways. difference. Today’s Peggy Mustain It may be a pat on the youth may be our Adkins. Adkins’ back or that good feeling you have after you greatest underutilized resource. I am service spans four counties, two states, have helped a younger member or senior thankful to have had the opportunity to and 11 countries. As president of citizen in some way, or the ribbon or impact a few of them and watch our county NAE4-HA, Adkins was a member of a award you receive, or your name in the staff make a huge impact working with 250-person delegation for the very first newspaper, or maybe even a college Tennessee youth.” African/African-American Summit in scholarship.” Ivory Coast, West Africa. She chaired Martha Jo Tolley became the first NAE4-HA’s fist Legislative Update on As part of the inaugural class of Hall Tennessee woman to be inducted in the Youth at Risk and worked tirelessly with of Fame inductees in 2002, Ben Powell National 4-H Hall of Fame in 2006. With lobbyists to engage states’ efforts with has nearly 40 years of work with the Extension Service. Powell became an Assistant County Agent in Rutherford “Today’s youth may be our greatest underutilized resource. County in 1959 and was appointed to a 4-H Specialist position just 10 years I am thankful to have had the opportunity to impact a few later. In 1981, Powell was appointed of them and watch our county staff make a huge impact the State 4-H Leader and under his leadership, Tennessee was recognized working with Tennessee youth.” – Martha Jo Tolley as the top state in a number of national 4-H project winners. Powell is a recipient of the Distinguished Service an Extension career that spanned 33 children, youth and families at risk. Her award from both the NACAA and years, Tolley served as a County Agent in efforts secured $10 million for what is NAE4-HA, as well as the NAE4-HA’s Anderson and Hawkins counties, State now known as CYFAR (Children, Youth American Spirit Award. In addition to his 4-H Specialist and Interim 4-H Leader. and Families At Risk). Adkins was named work with Tennessee 4-H, Powell has She served on numerous national one of 10 Outstanding Young Women of served as the President of the American committees, including several National America in 1985 and Freed-Hardeman Hampshire Sheep Association and 4-H Congress Committees, the University Alumnus of the Year in 2007. Secretary of the Tennessee Purebred Citizenship Washington Focus Extension As a State 4-H Specialist, Adkins was Sheep Breeders Association and the Planning Committee and the National known for her curriculum development Southern States Sheep Council. He Extension Task Force on Competition in expertise and authored the TAXI currently serves as a volunteer 4-H 4-H and the Awards Committee. Tolley volunteer system development sheep project leader and at the state was a founding member of the Tennessee curriculum. 4-H office. Association of Extension 4-H workers and has served as the secretary of the Tennessee 4-H Foundation. 2 the state the ability to obtain more and national levels. The Jim Byford 4-H DR. GEORGE FOSTER (2013) national 4-H project winners than any Endowment was established in his honor The late, great Dr. other state for 10 consecutive years. and is used to recognize youth who have George Foster was Downen served on countless advisory excelled in the Forestry, Wildlife and inducted in 2013.