AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Nearly a dozen members from National 4-H Council were beyond ready for a winter retreat in Alabama.

From Feb. 5-7, members of the Executive and Extension Relations teams discussed priorities, successes and opportunities for improvement and collaboration with Alabama Cooperative Extension System staff and 4-H members.

A priority conversation was the Beyond Ready initiative. In partnership with Cooperative Extension, 4-H will prepare 10 million young people with the skills and mindset needed to succeed in a world where 85% of the jobs they pursue in 2030 haven’t been invented yet.

“It was great to spend time with Alabama 4-H members,” said Jill Bramble, president and CEO of National 4-H Council. “A theme I heard from members, and one I experienced myself, is that their 4-H educators saw something in them and pushed them outside of their comfort zones. Now, these students are taking on leadership roles and mentoring younger teens, which is a great example of how 4-H prepares students to be beyond ready.”

The packed agenda included campus visits to Auburn and Tuskegee universities; tours of the Carver Sustainability Center and the Legacy Museum in Tuskegee; and special presentations during the George Washington Carver Society Induction Ceremony. Bramble and a few members of the Executive team also shared their Beyond Ready stories during the Alabama 4-H Midwinter Teen Leadership Retreat.

Choosing Alabama

National 4-H Council exists to support national initiatives and local 4-H programs through fundraising, storytelling and convenings. Bramble said regularly planned trips are essential to help National 4-H Council appreciate the diversity of Cooperative Extension across the country.

“It’s so important to get out, listen, learn and experience different land-grant universities and the way they deliver Cooperative Extension and 4-H,” Bramble said. “I’d never been to Auburn or Tuskegee before, and the Alabama Extension team was so welcoming. We are excited about new leadership in the state, including Extension Director Eve Brantley and Assistant Director for 4-H Casey Mull.”

The timing of the visit was a plus for Mull, who started his new role with Alabama 4-H in January.

“This was a learning opportunity for all of us,” Mull said. “It was an honor to have our National 4-H Council colleagues here and to share the successes of our program. Since they get to see and hear from all land-grant institutions across the country, we gained a lot of knowledge. We heard about new innovations and techniques that are being implemented. That will give us what we need to be on our game.”

During a February visit, members of National 4-H Council addressed attendees during the Alabama 4-H Midwinter Teen Leadership Retreat. From left are Alabama 4-H State Ambassador President Aaliyah Sanders; National 4-H Council members Vice President of Communications Natalie Godwin, Chief Strategy Officer Andy Ferrin and President and CEO Jill Bramble; and Assistant Director for Alabama 4-H Casey Mull.

Taking on Midwinter

The Alabama 4-H Midwinter Teen Leadership Retreat is a three-day event for senior level 4-H members, which includes 14 to 18 year olds. A few members of National 4-H Council’s leadership team observed the program during a day trip to the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana.

“Witnessing the retreat was a front-row seat to our mission, and it was so powerful,” Bramble said. “My very favorite part of 4-H is seeing young people in action. It gives me hope and inspires me for our future. I see a lot of youth who are beyond ready now.”

Bramble shared how growing up on a Maryland dairy farm — along with caring 4-H mentors and volunteers who helped her along the way — prepared her to be ready to lead National 4-H Council. She celebrates 20 years at the organization this year. Chief Strategy Officer Andy Ferrin and Vice President of Communications Natalie Godwin shared with the crowd of 136 4-H members that it is OK to change careers to follow a passion.

Throughout the event, the 34 Alabama 4-H ambassadors led workshops on soft skills and leadership development to prepare attendees for success in the classroom, on the job site and beyond.

“Cooperative Extension operates in every county, parish and borough across the United States,” Mull said. “Through 4-H, our land-grant institutions operate classrooms in all of those locations. So, 4-H’ers are the youngest students of those land-grant institutions. These 4-H’ers can grow up and experience the benefit of higher education and have lifelong learning experiences in Cooperative Extension, but it all starts with 4-H.”

Mutual Admiration

Auburn First Lady Tracy Roberts and Assistant Director for Alabama 4-H Casey Mull presented National 4-H Council President and CEO Jill Bramble with American and 4-H flags. From left are National 4-H Council Chief People Officer Shawnda Howard, Chief of Staff Eliza Hernandez, Chief Development and Marketing Officer Heather Elliott and Bramble; Roberts; National 4-H Council Chief Strategy Officer Andy Ferrin; Mull; and National 4-H Council Vice President of Communications Natalie Godwin.

Additionally, the National 4-H Council and Alabama 4-H staff expressed their mutual admiration during a luncheon.

National 4-H Council presented a crystal clover to Auburn President Christopher B. Roberts in appreciation for serving the nation’s youth. Auburn First Lady Tracy Roberts and the president’s Chief of Staff Rich McGlynn accepted the award on his behalf. In turn, Tracy Roberts and Mull presented Bramble with American and 4-H flags. Both were flown overseas aboard a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper in recognition of National 4-H Council’s continued support of the 4-H Military Partnership.

The presentations made for another memorable moment during a busy visit to the Yellowhammer State.

“Our partners with National 4-H Council saw so many aspects of Alabama 4-H,” Mull said. “That includes the institutional support from Alabama A&M, Tuskegee and Auburn universities. Plus, our 4-H’ers were involved. Seeing the National 4-H Council staff interact with our young people is the takeaway that I will remember.”

While Alabama and National 4-H Council already work well together, Bramble said she has high hopes for a bright future.

“I think Alabama 4-H is going to be a model for the rest of the country,” Bramble said. “Alabama shows it is possible for multiple land-grant universities to work across a state to reach all young people and meet them where they are.”

To learn more about Alabama 4-H, visit alabama4h.com. To learn more about the National 4-H Council, visit 4h.org.

National 4-H Council President and CEO Jill Bramble, right, presented a crystal clover to Auburn President Christopher B. Roberts in appreciation for serving the nation’s youth. Auburn First Lady Tracy Roberts, center, and the president’s Chief of Staff Rich McGlynn accepted the award on his behalf.