Dear Georgia 4-H,

This letter is to thank you for all you’ve done for me over the years. Myself, along with thousands of other youth across the state (and nation), have been impacted by you.

Thank you for allowing me to be myself. 4-H is home to thousands of different youths from all different backgrounds and places. You bring people together from rural South Georgia and the big city of Atlanta. You bring all types of kids together and give them one thing in common. That one thing will continue to help them grow into the future leaders of the world and future forever friends with one another.

Thank you for teaching me how to lose. Although losing is never fun, Georgia 4-H taught me how to lose with pride and win with humility. You taught me this through disappointing Friday mornings at camp by not winning the Tribal Shield, Captain’s Chest, the Grammy or the Pot of Gold and through disappointing awards ceremonies in the Crystal Pistol at Six Flags or board announcements in Talmadge Auditorium at Rock Eagle.

Thank you for all of the memories. I have so many memories from different events of DPA (District Project Achievement), Forestry Judging, Poultry Judging and camp. These memories will stick with me for a lifetime.

Thank you for building friendships. Without 4-H, there is no way I’d have as many friends as I do today or even just know people from every part of the state. I know that no matter where I am in Georgia I can always find someone I know that I can talk to or just grab a meal with.

Thank you for teaching me life-lessons. These life-lessons include communication with adults and other kids, responsibility (by keeping up with my belongings at 4-H events), leadership and compassion. I carry these lessons with me throughout daily life and use them to this day in college.

Most importantly, thank you for my 4-H family. I wouldn’t be where I am today with out their love and support through life. I know for sure that I have a forever family with 4-H. In 4-H, I know that I can find future groomsmen for my wedding, mentors for life, future play dates for my children and friends that I can reminisce with.

Thanks,

A Forever Grateful and Forever Georgia 4-H’er