“I first met Devin Miracle as a high school freshman when he came to UK in 2016 to participate in the State 4-H Fashion Revue. He was a shy young man who was learning to sew,” said Marjorie Baker, Extension Associate for Clothing and Textiles. He had constructed a pair of khaki slacks and a button front shirt. When he returned in 2017, he had taken a bold move, blending his sewing abilities with his eye for creativity. “Devin made an upcycled project where he took his freshman band uniform which he had outgrown and added length to the jacket and sleeves, making a very unique garment,” said Baker.

Kentucky 4-H gives teens the opportunity to put their leadership abilities into action, through state leadership boards. The first Fashion Leadership Board (FLB) was formed in PY2015. Having seen the board in action at the fashion revue, Devin applied for and secured a position on the 2017-18 fashion board. (He will be serving a second year on the 2018-19 board.)

FLB members lead educational sessions for delegates in the State 4-H Fashion Revue. In 2018, Devin stepped up and taught the modeling and body measuring sessions. “Can you imagine most sixteen year old guys teaching either of those topics to a group of girls? He did an outstanding job! He appeared to be at ease because he knew and understood the topics. I couldn’t have been more proud of him,” said Baker. In addition to his fashion revue leadership roles, Devin participated in and was selected as one of the eight 2018 finalists in the revue. He created and modeled a three-piece suit, shirt and matching bow tie with confidence.

Outside of 4-H, Devin is a leader in his high school band. Unfortunately, active leaders sometimes have to make difficult decisions. A band competition prevented him from attending one FLB meeting. “Devin didn’t miss a beat. He got in touch with other board members to catch up,” said Baker.

In Harrison County, Devin and fellow board member Christen Smith have started a sewing club to encourage more 4-H’ers to sew and become comfortable modeling their outfits.

Although Devin has excelled in constructing garments, his first love of sewing is actually quilting. His 2017 quilt project, entitled “Eclipse,” was the grand champion quilting project at the Kentucky State Fair. Originally wanting to use a prepared kit for the project, he found that the kit was no longer available. That meant he had to hand pick all of the fabrics to create his multi-colored quilt. “His eye for color coordination was evident,” said Baker. As a result of his experiences, Devin started a small sewing business making quilts for others. From shy guy to confident leader, Devin Miracle, like many Kentucky 4-H members, is pursuing his interests and becoming a caring, confident, contributing leader.