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Ten years ago a socially awkward 9 year old with Asperger’s Syndrome joined 4-H. Prior to joining 4-H, this child felt like an outcast wherever he went, felt that he wasn’t given opportunities other kids got, and wasn’t expected to be a success. This all changed when he joined 4-H. He finally had a place where he had the support to succeed and grow. Fast forward 10 years, this smart, funny and intellectual teenager overcame social barriers and went places he never thought possible. He has many friends, finished high school at the top of his class, started college and earned the highest honor in 4-H, the Emerald Award. He attributes everything he is today to the 4-H program, his parents, and his 4-H Agents, where people believed in him. Isaac Hosay, says it best, “4-H is about lifting others up and helping them to achieve success. Giving people a home to those who feel they don’t belong. Pushing yourself to grow beyond what you thought you were capable of so that you can become who you were always meant to be.”

The following paragraphs depict how 4-H can take an individual from the basic skills, practice level, and application of leadership skills to become a significant contributing member of society:

In Isaac’s own words, “4-H was difficult for me because my Asperger’s Syndrome diagnosis made simple things, like connecting with my peers, a challenge. Initially, I interrupted the leader, monopolized the conversation and had trouble focusing on the tasks. Before and after each meeting, my Mom and I would practice specific social scenarios such as: how to correctly interact with peers and how to speak at the appropriate times. I began making behavioral changes to better integrate into group settings.

One of the most valuable skills 4-H provided me was communicating. I have always been a big talker but it wasn’t until 4-H helped me hone my skills through opportunities like leading pledges, campaigning for club offices and competing at speech competitions that I learned to organize my thoughts, use volume control and speak with purpose.

In my first couple of years competing in speech competitions, I didn’t make it past the area level. But with practice, experience and advice from judges, I made it to the state level several times. By learning to communicate more effectively, many opportunities have arisen for me to speak and connect with others. I’ve had the opportunity to speak on behalf of Warren County 4-H at the annual Farm Bureau meeting and was also featured on WBKO and WNKY speaking about activities 4-H offers the youth in our community. Through these experiences, communication has become one of my greatest assets.

Beyond communication skills, 4-H also helped me realize the importance and benefits of volunteering. When I began volunteering with 4-H, I participated in service projects led by other members. Watching older members develop service projects and leadership skills inspired me to lead and create service projects of my own.

My first project was the 4-H Valentine Project where people create and donate valentines for the elderly and adults with special needs. My 2^nd project, which was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, was called the Need to Read Book Drive. For this project, Warren County 4-H got the community to donate books, flashcards, games and other reading materials to a local elementary school where many students didn’t have access to these items. By contributing my time and sharing my ideas, I learned the value of building a better community. These experiences have helped forge me into a better leader, collaborator and volunteer.

4-H helped take me from a socially awkward and uninvolved kid to a responsible, focused leader as well as a productive member of my community. Through this program, I have gained confidence, learned responsibility and developed communication skills that will help prepare me for college and beyond.”

Isaac won the 2022 4-H Emerald Award where only 4 teens in Kentucky are awarded with this honor each year. Isaac was also the keynote speaker for the Kentucky 4-H Foundation breakfast during the KY State Fair where he received a standing applause. He was featured on the Thrive Campaign to help raise $80,000 for 4-H. And he was featured in a video at the National Association of Youth Development Professionals Conference in fall of 2022 talking about how 4-H helped him succeed.