4-H alumni have participated in many fields. One out of every seven adults in the U.S. is a former 4-H member. Participation in 4-H events and activities, the value of projects completed, and the challenges and responsibilities experienced in 4-H have contributed to the personal and leadership development of 4-H alumni. A majority of alumni feel that 4-H experiences have also significantly contributed to their success in the workforce and that the knowledge and skills gained through 4-H continue to benefit them in their adult lives.[2]

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis raised a calf while a member.[1]

Many[quantify] notable politicians, entertainers, athletes, business individuals, and educators got their first start in 4-H.

Political figures

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Former President Jimmy Carter was a 4-H member.

Notable alumni include U.S. President Jimmy Carter,[3] and U.S. Vice Presidents Al Gore[3][4][5][6] and Walter Mondale.[3][6][7]

Current and former U.S. Senators
Current and former U.S. Governors
Alabama
Arkansas
Georgia
Hawai'i
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Michigan
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Mary Fallin[7]
North Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
 
Mitch McConnell is the current U.S. Senate Minority Leader.
Current and former members of Congress include

Former Puerto Rico Senator Miguel Deynes Soto.[5]

Cabinet officials
First Ladies
Native Americans

Academics

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George Beadle was a pioneering geneticist who won the Nobel prize in 1958.

Arts and literature

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Business and industry

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Bill Mensch studied electronics as a 4-H member.[12]

Entertainment and media

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Julia Roberts.

Military

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General Hugh Shelton raised Hereford steers as a member.[15]

Music

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Sciences and technology

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4-H alumni include the astronauts:

Sports

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Herschel Walker won the Heisman Trophy in 1982.

References

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  1. ^ "U.S. Presidents and 4-H". 4-H History Preservation Program. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  2. ^ Radhakrishna, Rama B.; Sinasky, Megan (December 2005). "4-H Experiences Contributing to Leadership and Personal Development of 4-H Alumni". The Journal of Extension. 43 (6). Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Famous 4-H Alumni" (PDF). North Carolina State University. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Butler, Keira (2014). Raise: What 4-H Teaches Seven Million Kids and How Its Lessons Could Change Food and Farming Forever. Oakland, California: University of California Press. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-5202-7580-5. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au "National 4-H Alumni Winners". 4-H History Preservation Program. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm "4-H Club". NNDB. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo fp fq fr fs ft fu fv fw fx fy fz ga gb gc gd ge "4-H Distinguished Alumni". National Association of Extension 4-H Agents. Archived from the original on February 12, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Tenkotte, Paul A.; Claypool, James C. (2014). The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. p. 367. ISBN 978-0-8131-5996-6. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Broyles, Mathew (2006). Pole Bending. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-4042-0547-5. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  10. ^ Schwartz, Faith (April 24, 2018). "Navajo Nation Attorney General Receives 4-H Luminary Award". University of Arizona. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  11. ^ DUNE Author Frank Herbert on Environmentalism. He Said This in the 70's!, retrieved October 10, 2021
  12. ^ "Interview with William Mensch". Stanford University. October 9, 1995. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  13. ^ a b c "Famous 4-H Alumni Join National Leaders to Celebrate Youth Impact, Emphasize STEM at 4-H Legacy Awards in D.C." PR Newswire. April 4, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  14. ^ a b c "Alumni Stories". 4-H. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  15. ^ Shelton, Hugh; Levinson, Ronald; McConnell, Malcolm (2010). Without Hesitation: The Odyssey of an American Warrior. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 9–10. ISBN 978-0-3125-9905-8. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  16. ^ Naczek, Margaret (July 4, 2018). "From border town to Belmont: Bob Baffert points to family, Nogales ranch as roots to horse racing success". Cronkite News. Retrieved October 19, 2020.