AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Around town in Hartselle, Betty Gottler is known as the 4-H lady. It’s a fitting description given her 33 years of employment with Alabama 4-H, including 28 years as the Morgan County 4-H agent. Through more than three decades, it is estimated that Gottler influenced the lives of more than 500,000 4-H members.

“It sort of scares you when you think about touching that many people, but the 4-H agent does not walk alone,” Gottler said. “They have the support of volunteer leaders, school leaders and parents. In working with those young people, as I run into them today, they tell me stories about summer camp, Midwinter Teen Retreat or going to National 4-H Congress. I love those moments because that’s where the history lies.”

Gottler retired in 2012, but she is still serving 4-H in Alabama and nationally. She is an Alabama 4-H Foundation board member, a National 4-H Council advisor and the archivist for the history committee of the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals. Preserving 4-H history is one of Gottler’s passions, partly because her own history is so closely tied to Alabama 4-H.

Baldwin County 4-H Roots

Betty Gottler’s mother, Thelma Shepherd Gottler, is one of 684 names listed on a memorial wall at the Alabama 4-H Center chapel. Those honored on the wall are all previous employees of Alabama Extension who have passed away.

The Gottler family’s 4-H roots were established long before Betty entered the world. Her father, John Gottler, was a 4-H member growing up in Baldwin County. Along with friends, he formed the Elberta Farmers Club for educational and marketing purposes. Gottler’s mother, the former Thelma Sheppard, was a member of Macon County 4-H and won a trip to National 4-H Congress.

John and Thelma met after she graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute and moved to Baldwin County as a home demonstration Extension agent. They married and started a family that included Betty and brothers Johnny and Jimmy.

“Even before I was 4-H age, I knew that 4-H stood for head, heart, hands and health, and I knew that we had to be dressed in green most any place we went,” Gottler said. “Some of my fondest memories were visiting the Extension office in Bay Minette. Mary Frances and Gladys were the secretaries, and they were our best friends. They always had treats for us. There were always bulletins we could take to read, but a limit of three, of course.”

As the three Gotttler siblings grew, they became more involved in 4-H. All of those experiences were putting Gottler on a particular path for her future.

“My brothers and I participated in every project, fundraiser, field trip, camp and leadership opportunity that came along,” Gottler said. “Plus, we all went to National 4-H Congress.”

From Montevallo to Morgan County

When it came time to choose a career, Gottler followed in her mother’s footsteps while creating her own path. She knew she wanted to study home economics. The University of Montevallo offered her a scholarship and was one of only three institutions in the state that was certified by the National Home Economics Association.

“I graduated from Montevallo in ‘72 with my bachelor’s and earned my master’s in ‘74,” Gottler said. “In between the degrees, I taught school. I quickly realized I loved working with young people, but I wanted to be more outside the box than was allowed in a formal classroom setting. That’s when Morgan County 4-H beckoned, and I never looked back.”

Living and working so close to Huntsville, which is considered by many to be the birthplace of the U.S. space program, Gottler seized opportunities for those outside the box 4-H activities.

“We were some of the first counties that participated in STEM education and developed a great working relationship with NASA and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center,” Gottler said. “That was in addition to the traditional programs of agriculture, clothing and health. I always loved taking our local young people to state programs in Auburn. We forget sometimes there are young people who have never left their hometowns. I’ll never forget how excited they were to be on Auburn’s campus and to share their 4-H projects with others.”

Lifelong Dedication

Joy Scott, left, was serving as Bibb County 4-H agent when she met Betty Gottler in 2006. Scott now serves as Alabama 4-H leadership and citizenship specialist.

As Gottler gained experience, she also became a mentor to other 4-H agents. That includes Joy Scott, who was the Bibb County 4-H agent when she met Gottler in 2006. The two bonded over shared experiences of 4-H and being University of Montevallo alumnae.

“Betty was kind of like the welcoming committee, always making sure new 4-H agents had what they needed,” said Scott, who now serves as the Alabama 4-H leadership and citizenship specialist. “Her passion, love and drive for 4-H still help me today as a specialist. Our 4-H motto is to make the best better, and Betty Gottler truly makes the best better for Alabama 4-H.”

Gottler witnessed numerous historical moments in Alabama 4-H. During a reorganization, she became a regional 4-H agent, serving Cherokee, DeKalb, Jackson, Madison and Marshall counties. She saw the expansion of the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana, including the construction of the chapel. She helped families navigate the transition from pencil and paper to online registration. Plus, Gottler served as coordinator of the Alabama 4-H Centennial, celebrated in 2009. Her commitment to 4-H has not gone unnoticed. In 2017, for her lifelong dedication, she was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame.

“Everyone in Alabama 4-H knows Ms. Betty,” said Justin Miller, former Cherokee County 4-H member and an Alabama Extension communications and marketing specialist. “Her passion for 4-H and young people has always been so evident. She certainly influenced my life as a 4-H member, and it’s been great for our paths to cross again through my career with Extension.”

A Beyond Ready Future

Even in retirement, Gottler is a lifelong learner who enjoys picking up new skills from people she once taught.

“One of my former 4-H members has a fabric shop, and she hosted a class on T-shirt quilts,” Gottler said. “I signed up for the class partly because I had so many T-shirts from all my years of 4-H. Now, I’ve become addicted to making T-shirt quilts. We’ve made several that have been used for fundraisers for Alabama 4-H.”

Today, Gottler is happy to continue serving the organization she loves as a volunteer. She looks forward to working alongside new leaders, including Alabama Extension Director Eve Brantley and Extension Assistant Director for 4-H Casey Mull.

“There is nothing but a bright future ahead for Alabama 4-H, as we continue to develop partnerships with industries and organizations,” Gottler said. “There’s a feeling of excitement in meetings. These new hires are bringing different knowledge and skill sets. I feel certain that we’re headed for a future where we are beyond ready in Alabama 4-H.”

To learn more about Alabama 4-H, visit alabama4h.com.