Sebastian County father-daughter pair is a presidential legacy in Arkansas 4-H
Aug. 13, 2026
By Rebekah Hall
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Kevin Jones served as Arkansas 4-H president from 1981-82
- Daughter Karly Jones recently elected as state 4-H president for 2026-2027
- Both value the leadership, confidence, public speaking skills instilled by 4-H program
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Download photo of Kevin and Karly Jones
MANSFIELD, Ark. — For Karly Jones, the newly elected state president of Arkansas 4-H, serving in the role will mean following in her father Kevin’s footsteps.
“It’s very cool to know I’m right behind him, doing what he did and getting to have some of the same experiences,” Karly, 18, said. “It was part of the reason I wanted to run for state office. It means a lot for me to be able to follow him and have the same fun stories to tell when I have kids. Maybe they’ll do the same thing, and it will just continue as a legacy.”
Kevin Jones served as state president for the youth development organization from 1981-82. He was also inducted into the Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame in 1982. Kevin said he and his wife, Sherry, wanted to enroll Karly and her younger sister, Katy, in 4-H because of the impact the program had on his life.
“We started them in 4-H because I knew what my experiences were, and I knew that it would be good for them,” he said. “Many of my best memories involve 4-H and extension. I met people who are still friends to this day, people I can call with a problem and know they’re going to be there the next day. You can get those friends in high school and college, but you get a lot of them in 4-H.”
Last year, Karly served as vice president for the Ozark District. Kevin said he is proud of his daughter for successfully campaigning for the presidency for the 2026-2027 program year.
“The competition is different than when I went through, and to some extent, I think the competition is stronger,” he said. “One of the things that made me proud when I was president, and makes me proud looking at what Karly has done, is the fact that I was elected by my peers and my friends. That’s a special part of this experience.”
After more than a decade of membership in Arkansas 4-H, Karly said winning the state presidency was a significant turning point.
“Even though I had already served as a state officer, campaigning for office again was harder than I expected it to be,” she said. “It was scary to step back into that place and remember how nerve-wracking it is. But all that build-up and work and worry, and all of my 11 years in 4-H, felt totally worth it when I was elected state president. It was a very huge moment.”
4-H runs in the family
The Jones family has a long history with Arkansas 4-H and the Cooperative Extension Service, which coordinates the youth development program and is the outreach and teaching arm of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Kevin said his great-great-grandfather, Rufus Cumbie, who worked for the Perry County Extension Office, was one of the first county agents in Arkansas. Jones’ mother and uncles were charter members of the Dayton 4-H Club in Sebastian County, which is still an active club today.
Karly said being in 4-H has “affected every area” of her life.
“I’ve noticed a difference between 4-H kids and non-4-H kids, in that 4-H kids will walk up to somebody and talk to them, even if they don’t know them,” she said. “That scares a lot of other kids to death. I think that’s something very valuable I’ve learned through 4-H — that I can connect with people I’ve never met.
“I’ve learned to really have confidence in myself, and I understand that if I’m willing to put the work into something, and I’m truly passionate about it, I can accomplish whatever I set out to do,” Karly said.
Kevin said he encouraged his daughter to embody the leadership qualities taught by the 4-H program.
“I told her early on, ‘If they say they need a volunteer for something, raise your hand. If they set a rule, follow it. Make yourself valuable to the people around you by being a willing participant,’” he said. “I think my biggest advice is to make yourself available, and that no job is beneath you.”
Looking ahead
Karly will start her freshman year in the honors program at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith this fall. Though Karly said she is a bit intimidated by her additional responsibilities as 4-H state president, she feels ready for the challenge.
“I’m excited to see how far I can go with this position, how much I can improve, and how much I can do to make the program better,” she said.
As part of her presidency, Karly said she is most looking forward to starting a mentor program for 4-H members who plan to run for state office to “help them through the experience of campaigning.”
“I really want to step into that position of mentor for every 4-H’er in the state because that’s something that meant a whole lot to me throughout the years and got me to this point,” Karly said. “I think that’s what I am most excited about this year — helping others get to where I am and doing for my peers what so many others have done for me.”
Kevin said he looks forward to seeing the impact that Arkansas 4-H will have on youth and families for years to come.
“Karly has friends whose uncles and great-uncles I remember from when I was a kid in 4-H,” he said. “Now, they’re two generations removed from when I was a kid, but their families are still heavily involved in 4-H. When we talk about legacy, it is something that families pass down through generations.”
Visit 4h.uada.edu to learn more about the youth development program.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas 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 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
501-671-2061