4-H Volunteers Provide Crucial Support to the Organization

A 30-year career in 4-H continues with volunteering for Jeff Holland of Monroe County. Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

Jeff Holland, an Indiana Farm Bureau member in Monroe County, didn’t plan on making a career out of 4-H – in fact, he holds a master’s degree in forensics – but what began as a way to expand his horizons turned into a 30-year love affair with the organization.

“In the 1960s, when I was about 10 years old, there wasn’t much color in 4-H,” says Holland, who is African American. “Someone came to our door because they were looking for minorities to join. So, I went to my first 4-H club, and one meeting turned into an entire year.”

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In the following years, Holland joined more organizations within the 4-H fold and was able to attend 4-H Round-Up at Purdue University, take a trip to Chicago and experience all the different skills the youth development program offered. Eventually, he attended Indiana University to obtain his degree, thinking his 4-H days were mostly behind him.

“I had made friends with some of the professors at Purdue, and I stopped by the university to visit,” he says. “The director of personnel asked if I’d like a position as the Monroe County 4-H office trainee, which would pay me a salary while I completed my master’s degree. I took the position”

From his position as a trainee, he moved to Tell City becoming youth educator of Perry County. Then, after three years, he returned to Monroe County as 4-H youth development educator for 17 years before taking on the additional role of Extension director for the remainder of his career. After 30 years, Holland now enjoys retirement by still spending his time volunteering with 4-H.

Despite not having an agricultural background, Holland became ingrained in the culture of the county and the program, helping to support youth in any and every aspect of their lives. He was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame in 2022.

Holland was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame in 2022. Photo credit: Indiana 4-H Foundation

“4-H volunteers set the framework for all the club work that is done,” Holland says. “If a leader comes in and shows excitement in wanting to teach, the youth come in excited to learn. Plus, everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses to learn from each other. Even though 4-H is a youth-driven organization, that doesn’t mean volunteer adults can’t learn, too.”

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Jeff Beaman and his son, Brandon, volunteer at the Johnson County Fair. Photo credit: Jeff Beaman

A Fair Shake

Jeff Beaman, a Johnson County Farm Bureau member, has been a 4-H junior leader adviser for 35 years. He was a youth member of 4-H, as were his three children.

Beaman says one of the biggest responsibilities of a volunteer each year is the county fair, which is largely supported and organized by volunteers.

“The Johnson County Fair is actually the Johnson County 4-H and Agricultural Fair,” he says. “Almost all of the volunteers for the fair have children currently in 4-H or have 4-H alumni. The fair is a culmination of a year’s worth of hard work by the 4-H’er and their family, preparing an exhibit, animal or project to be shown to the public for an entire week.”

Amy Hein, a Farm Bureau member in Lake County, echoes the sentiment, especially since the Lake County Fair is in a more urban area.

“If you’re coming to see animals at the fair, you’re coming to see the 4-H kids and the volunteers who helped provide them,” she says. “All of the kids are really hard workers, and they make it easy to want to volunteer your time.”

Hein was born and raised on a dairy farm – and still works there today. She was a member of 4-H growing up and became a leader after she tenured out.

“Lake County is a bit different because it’s urban, and there aren’t as many farms,” she says. “We have a lot of great people who open their farms and barns to the kids, allowing them to lease animals to show.”

She adds that volunteers are really the backbone of the program, especially because of their location.

“We’re not an agricultural county, and the only way to keep the program going is to have older volunteers who offer their skills and give the kids experiences,” she says.

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Amy Hein, second from the left in the front row, volunteers for the Barn Battle where 4-H’ers are divided into teams and compete in an array of fun activities. Photo credit: Amy Hein

A Rewarding Venture

All three volunteers say that continuing to offer time and effort to the program has been extremely gratifying.

“Being a 4-H volunteer is very rewarding when you can watch a shy, quiet youth find their voice and grow into a confident adult,” Beaman says.

Holland adds, “I think all adults are teachers who can give back to their communities. They can help shape the life of a young person and find out they’re never too old to learn themselves.”

Hein also says that it’s important to remember, too, that 4-H isn’t just focused on agriculture.

“There are so many different areas of the program where you can offer your skills,” she says. “Electrical, construction, resumes – there are a lot of talents that can be utilized.”

Learn more about Indiana 4-H and how you can volunteer time at extension.purdue.edu/4-H.

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