Allen County 4-H Member, Ty Jones’, 4-H story begins at the age of 5, but continues to grow with him on into his high school and college years.  Now a member of 4-H for 14 years, Ty credits 4-H in his leadership journey for the experience and skills that have sharpened him into a strong and confident leader he is today.  

4-H strives to connect youth with opportunities for personal and professional development to help prepare youth to become future leaders once they leave our program.  Through intentional programs, special interest clubs, skill development workshops, project groups and overnight leadership experiences, youth build skills over their entire 4-H career that they implement everyday in the real-world and in their futures.  

“I give credit to all of those things [4-H, FFA, Farm & Agriculture experiences] for who I am, but I am an advocate at heart. But the other aspects of 4 H, have poured into me, and made me who I am, as well.” – Ty Jones

Over 14 years, Ty’s 4-H story has combined a wide variety of experiences that have built his core interests, practical skills, leadership and even his career path.  Through his 4-H clubs, 4-H projects, overnight leadership experiences and leadership roles, Ty says that 4-H has given him “a purpose [to lead] at the county, area and the state levels.”

Mr. Jones’ leadership accolades include his role as the current Kentucky 4-H State Vice President, as well as serving as both the County Teen Club President and Area Teen Council President during his later years in 4-H.  

Ty has received the following recognitions during his senior 4-H work, including: receiving one of 4 Kentucky 4-H Emerald Honor Awards in 2024, achieving the State Conrad Feltner Teen Leader Award at Kentucky Volunteer Forum, in addition to multiple Grand Supreme Champion market lambs, goats & hogs in the Kentucky State Fair Champion Drive.

In the fall of 2025, Ty plans to attend Oklahoma State University, majoring in Animal Science and Agriculture Business with a focus in Farm and Ranch Management.  Ty Jones credits his next college and career steps to 4-H saying:

“But truly 4-H has really developed me to be a leader. And a lot of the reason that I'm going to Oklahoma State is because I received the McKnight Scholarship and that scholarship is a very hard process to get. But 4-H has provided me the opportunities and given me the interview skills and the skills that I needed to achieve that scholarship. So 4-H, even though, while I've done a lot of things in a lot of other organizations. 4-H really has given me a lot of the skills that it takes to achieve different things that I've achieved. And I think 4-H has given that to me.”

When asked, Ty why do you continue to participate in 4-H, Ty said: 

“There's a lot of things that I could do with my time, but I feel like the 4-H organization has given a lot to me, and it continues to give more to me as I've gone through my years in 4-H.  I continue to gain skills that I didn't learn everything in my 1st 5 or 6 years in 4-H.   Even this year, being able to serve as a State officer and to gain more leadership roles. I'm still gaining skills that are vital to my success and my future along down the road in 10, 20, 30 years from now and 4-H has given me those skills, and it continues to pour back into me. So, I continue to pour into the organization.”

4-H Thrive Model: How Developmental Context of 4-H Program 

Helps to Create Long-Term Success

Overview of Ty Jones’ 4-H Experience with Allen County 4-H & Kentucky 4-H: 

Sparks (Areas for Building Excitement):

1. Love for Service to Others – fostered by United 4-H Club service projects 
2. Excitement for Leadership – fostered by President role in 4-H Cooking Club
3. Love for Agriculture & Animal Sciences – fostered by 4-H Livestock Club & Projects

Belonging (Areas for Building Sense of Belonging): 

1. Network of 4-H individuals – culminated from local, state & national 4-H experiences
2. Opportunities for Skill Development – created by club, project and leadership opportunities
3. Special Interest & Community Clubs – develops places to belong with individuals of similar interest 

Relationships (Areas for Building Relationships): 

1. Multitude of 4-H Friends – developed through 4-H Activities & Livestock Showing
2. Positive Youth-Adult Partnerships – developed by Club Leaders, Volunteers & 4-H Professionals
3. Eagerness to Mentor Young Members – modeled after his own mentor-mentee experience & service to others

Engagement (Areas for Engaging Personally & Beyond): 

1. Opportunities for Growth – positions held at club, county, area & state 4-H Levels
2. Career Exploration – experienced through animal science & livestock husbandry projects
3. Opportunities to Lead – leadership skills to help him serve as a Kentucky 4-H State Officer