4-H Extension Corner

from December 2021

Grazing Grace

Growing our leaders of tomorrow …

BY CAROLYN DRINKARD

One of the highest honors for any 4-H member is to become a State Ambassador. The 4-H Ambassadors Program gives teen leaders many opportunities to enhance their leadership, citizenship and communication skills, as they become the faces of Alabama 4-H.

Alabama has 27 young people who currently serve as 4-H Ambassadors. These students met rigorous standards to attain this position. Each had completed at least one full club year as an active, participating 4-H member, who had demonstrated leadership in a variety of youth development activities. The Ambassador Program also has age requirements. Each student had to be at least 14 years old by January 1 of the starting term year and be a high school sophomore, junior, or senior.

Becoming a State 4-H Ambassador is an honor, but it carries many responsibilities. Ambassadors must not only have knowledge of the total Alabama 4-H Youth Development Program, but they also must have experience in planning and delivering events and activities. They must demonstrate a commitment to community service and volunteerism by working with other youth and adults, individually and as a team member.

State Ambassadors enjoy many benefits. They are given numerous opportunities to further develop leadership, communication, and organizational skills. These students gain a greater understanding of the 4-H Youth Development Program by planning, implementing and participating in statewide educational, leadership and service-related programs. Each Ambassador also represents 4-H and Alabama as a 4-H Ambassador Delegate.

Ambassadors support the mission and vision of Alabama 4-H, as well as various local, county, regional, and statewide programs and activities through public presentations, leadership development opportunities and community service. They assist with an innovative and high-profile Ambassador Community Service Project and provide leadership for the Midwinter Teen Leadership Retreat, Alabama 4-H State Competitive Events Day and other 4-H events, as assigned.

Being chosen as a State Ambassador requires a high level of commitment, but assuming a State Ambassador Officer position requires even more dedication.

For Colton Cook, President of the 2021 Alabama State Ambassadors, 4-H was a place to belong. “As an Ambassador, I wanted to provide that safe haven for people who felt like outsiders,” Colton stated, “but as President, I could do more. Being State Ambassador President gives me a platform to promote 4-H all across our wonderful state.”

Neely Stewart, who serves as Alabama’s State Ambassador Vice President, agreed. “I love helping others, ” she explained. “This position allows me to do that often. I wanted to lead my fellow Ambassadors well and listen to their new suggestions and ideas.”

For Colton Cook, being a State Ambassador officer was a hands-on master class in responsibility and communication, two of the most important skills for future employment.

“All the Ambassadors are from every corner of the state, so it is vitally important that we stay in touch with one another,” he added. “Since we are so far apart, it’s even more important that the advisors know that each of us can do our part.”

Colton offered some advice to younger 4-H members, who might aspire to becoming an Ambassador one day: “Get involved. Start out small. Be an officer in your local 4-H club; be on your school’s student council or SGA; be on your county’s youth council. All of these leadership opportunities will lead to bigger and better opportunities.”

“I encourage any 4-H’er to be a State Ambassador, because of the leadership skills and lifelong friendships it provides,” said Neely Stewart. “I am forever grateful to Alabama 4-H for how it has shaped me into the leader I am today.”