With a history spanning over a century, the non-profit 4-H organization offers programs and activities that aim to teach valuable hands-on skills to young people according its mission to foster the values of “head, heart, hands, and health.”
Sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 4-H is the nation’s largest network of youth development organizations, with an annual involvement of more than six million young people ages 8-18 across the U.S. Projects relate to science, health, nutrition, agriculture, and civic engagement. Through these projects youth develop real-world skills that tie back to specific “mission mandates” of science, citizenship, and healthy living. 4-H was established in Virginia since the early 1900s, beginning as various smaller home economics projects and eventually becoming clubs in 1920. The headquarters for Extension work was moved to Virginia Tech in 1916 and now all of the state’s counties have clubs.
4-H is the Youth Development Program of Virginia Cooperative Extension and over the past several years there has been a more than 60 percent increase in the number of youth enrolled in 4-H clubs, in the percentage of students enrolled in school enrichment programs, and the number of adult volunteers who assist.
The Albemarle/Charlottes-ville division of 4-H, led by Program Assistant Sarah Brown and Extension Agent Sam Leech, has a wide program outreach with more than 250 enrolled youth members, 55 adult volunteers, and seven clubs across the county. Recent 4-H events included the County 4-H Contests, held in March, the In-School Embryology Program that ran from April to May, and the District Contests, held in late May. June featured the Livestock and Home Arts Show in Keswick, Junior Camp at Holiday Lake Educational Center in Appomattox, and the 102nd Annual Virginia 4-H State Congress at Virginia Tech. The newly established Sewing Camp will be held for the first time this July in cooperation with James Monroe’s Highland Estate.
In January, the Charlottesville 4-H participated in 4-H Day at the Capitol. 4-Hers learned about governmental procedures and citizen involvement in the nation’s political life. They met with state legislators to learn about their role and in turn related their own experiences with 4-H.
Among the participants were Thomas and Carter Manis, who attended with their father, Aaron, and their grandfather, Mark. Thomas is a part of the Charlottesville Albemarle Livestock Family and the Blue Ridge Shooting Education 4-H clubs.
“We got to see lots of cool statues and models of the old Capitol building,” Thomas said. “We also had the chance to meet Delegate Amy Laufer, and I asked her questions about her career. Turns out, she was a 4-H member when she was young and she lived on a big farm!”
Between the two of them, Thomas and Carter are raising market chickens, hogs, and rabbits as part of their respective 4-H projects. Both boys plan to remain involved in 4-H as long as they can, citing the way the program has taught them responsibility and collaboration.
Carter, who is the president of the CALF club and the Sergeant of Arms of the Blue Ridge Shooting Education club, said, “4-H is a good thing to do because it teaches you life skills and you get to meet different people. My favorite part is being part of the fair and working with my animals. I have gotten better at public speaking and I enjoy helping lead meetings for my organizations.”
Among other initiatives, the 4-H association runs the statewide Virginia Horse Ambassador program, which is sponsored by the Virginia Horse Industry Board and supported by the Virginia Youth Animal Science Program out of Virginia Tech. The ambassador program encourages 4-H members to demonstrate their skills in citizenship, leadership and public speaking as they travel around the state advocating for the sport of horseback riding. 4-Hers get the opportunity to help 4-H Extension agents with county-level events and develop relationships with program donors.
One of this year’s ambassadors is Mary Jones from Crozet. Jones has been extensively involved on local, regional, and national levels for past eight years. She was tapped as an All-Star (the highest 4-H Honor) last summer and became a State Horse Ambassador in 2023.
Ambassadors this year have served at 4-H Day at the Capitol, 4-H Congress, the Virginia Horse Council Annual Meeting and Educational Seminar, and the State 4-H and FFA Equismartz Contests. Over the summer, Mary and her fellow ambassadors will be at the CMR Farm Show in Culpeper and the VA State 4-H Horse Show in September.
The success of our local 4-H program would not be possible without the contributions of Sarah Brown and Sam Leech. A second generation 4-Her from Virginia and double Virginia Tech graduate, Brown held local, county, and district leadership positions during her decade-long membership in Virginia 4-H. She won the Virginia 4-H All Star award and served as a State Ambassador for two years.
“I had a tremendous experience growing up in 4-H, which I credit for helping me achieve many of my career goals,” Brown said. “I enjoy building community and fostering lasting, positive relationships. It’s empowering to give youth the chance to try new things, discover their passions, and turn those passions into careers.”
Leech has been a 4-H Extension Agent for 10 years. Growing up in Highland County on a cattle ranch, he was involved in various 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) programs.
“There is nothing more meaningful than watching a youth achieve their project goals and grow over the years,” said Leech. “I particularly enjoy working with families and youth to achieve their project goals and to provide hands-on learning activities. My favorite program areas are agriculture, especially the horse and youth livestock programs.”
As with many nonprofit organizations, the success of Charlottesville 4-H is also due in large part to its many volunteers, who include Hannah Orsagh, Allyson Henschel, and Lynne Heetderks.
Although the Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H program serves all of Albemarle, there are also individual programs and clubs in specific areas. Western Albemarle is home to a 4-H Cloverbud and Community Club, co-founded by Sarah Brown and Jaclyn Scott. It has 35 youth members in grades K-5 and intends to expand through the high school level.
The Cloverbud and Community Club has two project groups. One focuses on fiber science, ranging from shorn wool to woven fabric. The second group works alongside the Charlottesville Albemarle Kennel Club to better understand dog behavior and obedience.
One of the program’s outstanding participants is Olivia-Kate Crombie, a rising sophomore at Western Albemarle. Crombie was elected to serve as a Northwest District State Ambassador as for 2024-2025. Impressively, the last time an Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H teen served on this Cabinet was in 2006.
Crombie is an excellent example of the many different directions that 4-H can take you. What started out as an interest in veterinary science evolved into a public speaking role. Crombie spends some of her time working as a Healthy Living Ambassador and furthering her service project, the culminating event for Healthy Living Ambassadors.
“Exploring public speaking through 4-H has helped me grow as a more confident presenter and inspired me to pursue other speaking opportunities,” Crombie said. “I have also learned from my fellow 4-Hers and 4-H extension agents what it means to be a leader. These individuals have taught me that organization, unity and a focus on doing what’s best for the community are essential in all leaders.”
Crombie emphasized how the values she has learned through 4-H play a huge role in her day-to-day life. “The biggest thing I have taken from 4-H is that if there is something I want to advocate for, compete in, or do, there is nothing stopping me from jumping right in,” Crombie said. “If I have a goal, whether it is to compete in a new category or advocate on a statewide scale, I know the community will support me.”
The Albemarle County Fair is a key event for the organization, scheduled from August 1-3 at James Monroe’s Highland. Members will show and sell animals in the Open Livestock Show, as well as exhibit artwork and agricultural projects in the Home Arts pavilion for a chance at a blue ribbon.
There’s also a new event presented by the Piedmont Master Gardeners called the Giant Titan Sunflower Contest. The Western Albemarle Cloverbud and Community Club is participating, attempting to grow large sunflowers at the Greenwood Community Center.
Albemarle 4-H will also be at the Goochland Agriculture Fair, scheduled for August 3rd, and the Fluvanna County Fair, set for August 15-17.
