Nov. 6, 2020
Benton, Greene county teens newest Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame inductees
By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts
- Newest inductees are Julie Griffin of Benton County, Jessica Griffin from Greene County
- Teens honored for achievement, leadership and service
- Honorees now in college, studying agriculture
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LITTLE ROCK — Julie Griffin of Benton County and Jessica Griffin from Greene County join the ranks of the more than 80 4-H members who have received the highest Arkansas 4-H honor — induction into Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame.
The Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame, started in 1977, recognizes outstanding 4-H members who have shown commitment to Arkansas 4-H, outstanding leadership, a record of service to others, and extensive achievement at the club, county and state level.
“They are our young people who have achieved at the highest level,” said Martha Ray Sartor, associate vice president for family and consumer sciences and 4-H youth development with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “These are the youth who are constantly working, as we say in 4-H, to make the best better.”
Julie and Jessica and their families were honored at a luncheon in October at the Arkansas C.A. Vines 4-H Center, where their photos have been added to the Hall of Fame. The teens, who share a last name but are not related, have each been in 4-H for 14 years.
“The 4-H program grows the whole child,” said Lori Canada, 4-H program coordinator for STEM and a member of the Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame. “The skills these youth gain throughout the program last their whole lifetime and affect generations to come.”
Julie and Jessica are both attending college and studying agricultural communications.
Julie Griffin attends Arkansas Tech University. As part of Benton County 4-H, she started a program to loan heifers to other 4-H members and taught techniques for grooming, washing and showing. She became known as the “dairy expert” in her club and gave frequent dairy industry talks that reached more than 2,000 people.
“The past 14 years in 4-H have really prepared me for this part of my life,” she said. “It has taught me leadership and responsibility, and it has helped me make lifelong bonds, and for that, I am forever grateful.”
Jessica Griffin attends the University of Arkansas, where she is studying agricultural communications and agricultural leadership. During her time with Greene County 4-H, she frequently shared her expertise with younger club members by teaching them livestock showmanship techniques.
Jessica served as vice president for Arkansas 4-H, as a State Fair Ambassador, and a camp counselor. She also helped organize and conduct the Teen Leader Conference and represented Arkansas 4-H at the National Farm Bureau Convention, Southern Region Teen Leader Conference and the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame.
“I would not be where I am today without 4-H and the experiences it allowed me to have,” she said.
Arkansas 4-H is a youth development program operated by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. It teaches leadership, citizenship and life skills to youth in grades K-12.
To learn more about 4-H opportunities, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit 4H.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Tracy Courage
Director, Communications Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
tcourage@uada.edu