4-H Opens Doors to Success for Youth

     “If opportunity doesn’t know, build a door.”-Milton Berle. Pike County 4-H builds doors and opened it and here are two examples of how our program “makes the best better.

      Danica won the David Sparrow Spirit Award two years in a row! Danica won these award during the American Private Enterprise Seminars.   Why is this significant? The first time I met her was during a 4-H meeting. She ran for president and stated, “Don’t think me as crippled, and think of me as being the best candidate for the job!” She won the election that year and the expression on her face was amazing. You see Danica had been dropped as a baby which resulted in her legs being twisted and making walking difficult without a brace. This young lady is incontinent and had to wear adult underpants, even under her prom gown. She lives with a difficult step-mother and her dad along with two step brothers. They were given cell phones, she was not.

      The next time I encountered her was during her junior year during the American Private Enterprise Seminar in which she was a county winner. With her beautiful voice, she won the Big Sandy Idol Contest. We traveled to the University of Kentucky for the State Seminar and she got to know everyone! She served as a junior leader during the 2018 conference and introduced the keynote speaker. This two time Sparrow Spirit Award winner is majoring in business management in college. Helping her broaden her horizon and giving her an opportunity to excel in this state seminar has helped her make a decision to pursue a career in business.

      Jamie is very low income family being raised by grandparents. During 4-H project Camp, Jamie revealed to a volunteer that she had only been out of the county once. The volunteer sponsored her way to 4-H Camp for the two years.  Jamie has now attended 4-H Camp for two years, along with her brother.   She is very proud of her works of art created during painting class. 

       The number of youth in the Pike 4-H program is enormous but the individual stories of youth touched by 4-H programs can paves a way to a successful life in the work place and our community.