AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Kaleigh Backstrom has always wanted to know the why behind everything. This curiosity made one moment as a teenager especially difficult. Waiting on the veterinarian to come treat a sick calf, Backstrom stood there, unsure about what was wrong or how to help. From the goats she loved as a child to the cattle and pigs she showed through 4-H, animals were a big part of her life. So, not having the answers in that instance did not sit right with her. That moment of frustration set the wheels in motion for Backstrom — ones that would steer her to pursuing a career in veterinary medicine.

While her love for animals has always been there, production agriculture was unfamiliar to Backstrom until 2013. That is when her family moved from Georgia and bought a commercial poultry farm in north Alabama. This was also when Backstrom first encountered 4-H through a local club for homeschooled students. It did not take long for Backstrom to dive headfirst into 4-H — attending club meetings, competing in baking and birdhouse-building contests and participating in her first animal-related project: Pig Squeal.

“4-H helped me realize that I had a passion for animals,” Backstrom said. “I fell in love with Pig Squeal, where we raised two pigs for a few months and then were able to do some showmanship skills, too.”

Over the years, her passion and involvement in 4-H continued to grow. She was involved in other animal programs — like the Beef Project, which teaches youth how to raise a show calf. This includes learning about the importance of recordkeeping and managing a healthy cattle herd. Backstrom also served in leadership positions with Marshall County 4-H and was an Alabama 4-H state ambassador for two years.

Beyond Ready for Vet Med

Kaleigh Backstrom (left) had mentors, like her 4-H agent Kristen Roberson (center), who helped her find her spark and passion for animals.

Today, Backstrom is a second-year student in the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, one of the country’s top programs. Looking back on her 4-H experiences, Backstrom said they helped form her decision to become a veterinarian.

“I think that 4-H really gave me a launchpad into veterinary medicine,” Backstrom said. “Kristen Roberson was my agent, and I learned a lot of life lessons from her. She was always supportive and kind of pushed me to be interested in agriculture, especially animal production.”

The work of 4-H agents is more of a calling than a career. Their passions to teach and mentor young people are unrivaled. Each seemingly small interaction between an agent and a member is a giant investment in that young person and their future. Roberson, now Alabama Extension’s county director for Marshall County, said one of the greatest joys is seeing her former 4-H members go on to make incredible differences.

“I could not be more proud of Kaleigh and that I may have helped her, in the slightest way, find her spark,” Roberson said. “Two caring adults took an interest in me and helped me find my spark in 4-H. Doing the same thing for the young people I work with is the least that I can do. It is a great responsibility that I do not take lightly.”

Building a Career

A shared mission of both Alabama 4-H and the Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine is to prepare students so that they are beyond ready to have meaningful and impactful careers. As a student, Backstrom learns alongside researchers and clinicians in one of the most advanced teaching hospitals and research facilities in the country.

“It’s really just been a blessing,” Backstrom said. “Day by day, I realize that the Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine is wonderful, and you can tell that the professors care. They want you to learn, put your best foot forward and be a wonderful veterinarian. I appreciate that every day, and I’m so thankful to be here.”

Just like in 4-H, the college has helped link Backstrom to a person who is supporting her journey to becoming a veterinarian. Dr. Jenna Stockler, an assistant clinical professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is Backstrom’s mentor. Stockler said since meeting through the college’s mentorship program, the two have bonded over both classes and clubs.

“Kaleigh is one of my mentees, and I have watched her grow exponentially over the last two years,” Stockler said. “She has been involved in our Production Animal Medicine Club and Bovine Practitioners Club, and she has taken a huge role in both of those.”

Green of a Different Color

Veterinary clubs and classes are not the only commonalities between Backstrom and Stockler. Growing up in West Virginia, Stockler also had the experiences that come with being a 4-H member.

“My dad was an Extension agent, so 4-H is something that is near and dear to my heart,” Stockler said. “I was able to participate in livestock judging, go to 4-H camps and even compete nationally in poultry judging.”

Stockler knows the value of 4-H and just how far it can take you. From her days of competitions to the times she traveled with her dad, those 4-H experiences created a lot of opportunities throughout her life. This is something that Stockler also notices in the backgrounds of many future veterinarians.

“For a lot of our students that were in 4-H, we see that they are driven and they have that goal of wanting to know more and do more,” Stockler said. “They saw what 4-H was able to give them, so they know the value of being in those different clubs.”

Nowadays, Backstrom has traded her signature, 4-H green blazer for a stethoscope and overalls in a different shade of green. As she continues her academic journey, Backstrom is still writing the story of her career as a veterinarian. However, one thing is for sure: the chapters of her life in Alabama 4-H helped make the rest of the story possible.

“To me, 4-H, in all aspects, gives you the opportunity to experience something you’ve never experienced before,” Backstrom said. “That’s what 4-H was to me. I had a lot of different interests, and every time that I wanted to do something, somebody was there to push me forward.”

Investments Never Wasted

Alabama 4-H is the youth development arm of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. It seeks to empower young people with the skills to lead their communities and grow into future leaders.

“I have seen many members find their passions through their 4-H tenure,” Roberson said. “When you invest time, energy or resources into a 4-H member, you are contributing to their future. I assure you that those investments are never wasted.”

To get involved as a member or volunteer, visit alabama4h.com for more information about 4-H opportunities.

Backstrom’s story is one of five articles published to celebrate Alabama Extension Week, April 12-18. To learn more about Alabama Extension Week, visit aces.edu/go/ALExtensionWeek.