Swine
Building a strong bond with your animal is key to a successful swine project. Regular gentle interactions help your swine stay calm and accustomed to handling, fostering trust and cooperation for smoother training. In the first photo, I’m teaching a youth member how to safely handle a pig. The second shows me presenting a pig we raised at the Smith County Fair. In the third and fourth photos, I’m participating in showmanship at the Smith County Fair and Middle TN Regional Swine Show, respectively. The fifth highlights my breeding gilt at the TN State Swine Show. The final photo captures the friendships I’ve formed, representing our project at the TN State 4-H Round-Up.
Leadership
Leadership is about inspiring growth, igniting passion, and empowering others to reach their potential. These moments highlight that dedication: attending the Ignite National Leadership Conference to connect with peers, mentoring on the TSSC Junior Board, and leading Skill-a-thon and showmanship workshops to build confidence through hands-on learning. Organizing trips to farms and universities further bridges real-world agriculture with future innovation.
In the first two photos, I’m running a health workshop at H.B. Williams Elementary. The third captures a farm visit I organized to the WKU Dairy Farm for June Dairy Month. In the final photo, I’m advocating for dairy farmers, meeting with the Gallatin Chamber of Commerce and the mayor.
CITIZENSHIP
Banners and ribbons are rewarding, but project groups create lasting impact. This year, I attended the Ignite Conference in Washington, D.C., engaging with elected officials about 4-H, served veterans at Sumner County's Thanksgiving Dinner, and collected donations for Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. I also made ice cream with local schools and provided breakfast to educators as a heartfelt "Thank You."
In the first three photos, my team and I represented Tennessee at the National FCS Contest in San Antonio, connecting with locals, exploring the Japanese Tea Garden, and visiting the Alamo. The fourth photo captures 4-H members and me volunteering at TN 4-H Junior Camp, leading service projects and activities for over 300 youth. The fifth highlights the National 4-H Ignite Conference, where we met leaders from across the U.S. and beyond and participated in meaningful service projects. In the final photo, a few Sumner County 4-Hers and I attended the Middle TN All-Star Conference, organizing penny wars and creating tactile Horse Bowl and Hippology materials for blind participants.
