Leadership means different things to different people. There are numerous definitions. Stodgill (1974, p. 259) concluded that "there are almost as many definitions of leadership as there are persons who have attempted to define the concept."

Any one of these meanings may apply to a certain circumstance, but no single definition is universally accepted; however, leadership is clearly a role that leads toward goal achievement, involves interaction of influence, and usually results in some form of changed structure or behavior of groups, organizations or communities (Lassey, 1976).

Leadership development is a process that extends over many years. The realities of life require selection and training that occur early in the individual's career, but that is only the first step. Leadership development calls for repeated assessments and repeated opportunities for training. All talent develops through interplay - sometimes over many years - between native gifts on the one hand and opportunities and challenges on the other (Gardner, 1990).

Every aspect of 4-H offers some form of leadership to its members whether the member leads the pledge, holds an office, volunteers to bring snack or joins a committee, or participates in community service projects.  Boyd County Extension Council, and Boyd County 4-H Council value, offer and encourage leadership in their programming.

Leadership is also a component in Boyd County 4-H Livestock and Horse Clubs where Tyler began his 4-H journey.  This 13 year old hit the ground running as an officer in both horse and livestock clubs his entire high school career.  Tyler served on many committees and attended the Kentucky Volunteer Forum as a teenager.  He was the first recipient of the Glenn Young Excellence in Livestock Award, a local award created in memory of a livestock volunteer and farmer in Boyd County.

Livestock was not this young leader’s only passion.  Soon after graduating high school, Tyler’s passion for horses lead him to become a certified horse leader to assist with the Boyd County Saddleites 4-H Horse Club.   Within two years of serving as a certified horse leader, Tyler began the very first competitive horse drill team in Boyd County 4-H history.  Under his leadership, this drill team each year improved and were reserve champions in the 2019 Kentucky State 4-H Horse Show.  

During all the volunteer hours and college graduation with an agriculture business degree, Tyler soon advanced his career into retail management while serving as a certified Boyd County 4-H leader, Boyd County Adult 4-H Council Member, Boyd County Extension Council Member, and his most recent leadership role as a Boyd County Extension District Board Member.  Tyler is the youngest volunteer to ever serve on the Boyd County Extension District Board.   Tyler attributes many of his successes to God, family and 4-H.