UA AECT Creates Collegiate 4-H Club

By Sierra Burnett

     The University of Arkansas is now home to a Collegiate 4- H Club, the first club solely devoted to 4-H the University has ever had. Sagely Burnett, a sophomore student Agricultural Business major, played a key role in the establishment of this club.

     “I decided to start the Collegiate 4-H because of my long involvement with the youth organization,” said Burnett.

     Burnett was helped greatly by Reagan Grubbs, a previous Arkansas 4-H State Officer and graduate student at the U of A.

     “Ever since I was within the youth organization as a child, I knew I wanted to continue my 4-H abilities past youth membership,” said Grubbs.

     Grubbs said after she aged out of the youth organization, she made it her personal mission to create a Collegiate 4-H Club for alumni of the organization so they could continue their 4-H participation outside of high school. 4-H is so popular as a youth organization because of the endless possibilities for projects, said Burnett.

     There is a category for almost any area of interest within 4-H, but there are also certain leadership skills that are taught in 4-H programs no matter what the project area.

     “Most of the opportunities within Collegiate 4-H or within any 4-H club revolve around personal development,” said Burnett, “mostly with professional development, community service, leadership, as well as the opportunity to teach and mentor younger 4-H members.”

     Burnett said she plans to implement these development skills into as many areas of Collegiate 4-H as she can. The Collegiate 4-H Club holds many of the same goals that County 4-H Clubs do in the state.  

     “A goal that is very important to us is making our members feel secure in their abilities in the real world,” said Burnett.

     Grubbs said the club is run by the members.

     “The goal for this club is to allow our members to personally and professionally grow in ways they feel they need in order to succeed,” said Grubbs.