4-H Open House to be held on Monday, Sept. 25
Gordon County 4-H will be hosting an Open House on Monday, Sept. 25 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This Open House will showcase all of the programs offered in 4-H, along with all of the staff members, volunteers, teen leaders, and current 4-H’ers in the programs. Youth will meet new friends, play games, explore 4-H programs, and enjoy activities while parents will learn about opportunities for their children and themselves in 4-H. All school-age children and their parents are welcome to attend. Supper will be provided. Sign up for a text message reminder of the open house by texting @gcount to 81010. As the Open House approaches, we will be doing a series of articles on current 4-H’ers and 4-H alumni of Gordon County to highlight the impact 4-H makes on its members.
4-H Alumnus Jody Darby
What is your current occupation? Executive Director, Student Financial Services, Chattahoochee Technical College (Marietta, GA)
What years were you in Gordon County 4-H?
As long as I can remember. With dad being the 4-H Program Assistant in the county, I feel like 4-H was just always a part of my life. I began showing sheep as early as possible, and I finished with Clovers & Company as a cast member in 1997 (6 years). What activities did you do in 4-H? Dairy Judging – State Winner and Master 4-H’er, Poultry Judging, Land Judging, Livestock Judging, Livestock Show Team – both cattle and sheep, Project Achievement/ State Congress, Clovers & Company – musical performance group of Georgia 4-H, Citizenship Washington Focus, Consumer Judging, Scholarship – State Winner and Master 4-H’ers, State Council, and County Council
What was your main project area and what was your specific topic?
As a cloverleaf/junior, I competed in Veterinary Science at least once or twice---Brucellosis in Cattle. Primarily and definitely as a senior 4-H’er, my DPA project was Performing Arts – Vocal (PAV). I never mastered in PAV, but I did place 2nd at State Congress for two years.
How has your time in 4-H helped you since graduation, both in college and in the workforce?
The lines bleed from one to the other, college and workforce, when reflecting on how 4-H has helped me.
1. Teamwork. Judging events taught me to work as a team. Teamwork is a part of life. My entire graduate work at Shorter University was team-based. We succeeded as a team, or we failed as a team—while still earning individual grades. Same as with judging events. Also, having the high individual scorer on your team doesn’t make up for the other three judgers if they performed poorly. The team still suffered. At work, when my team of 30 people does well, we all celebrate. When we don’t, we re-visit our shortcomings, practice more (re-evaluate processes, etc.), and try to improve next time.
2. Winning and losing. Competitions taught me how to win and lose. Things aren’t always going to go my way. I may not win an argument or debate every time at work or when I was in college. I didn’t walk out of the show ring as a winner each time. Arguably, we may learn more from those brown and green 8th or 9th place ribbons than we do those blue and red of 1st and 2nd.
3. Celebrate individual accomplishment. Competing in Performing Arts – Vocal, where I was the only one on stage, I knew that my performance was solely up to me. There was no team on which to rely. As a senior 4-H’er, my mentality was that if I didn’t win, I may as well have been at home. I worked hard. I won at district each year as a high schooler. I was proud of those winning times, and we can’t be afraid to be the same way at work. Without being boastful, we must let ourselves acknowledge when we do well. That’s not always easy.
4. It’s not all about me. My first rehearsal weekend with Clovers and Company as a middle schooler helped me to learn that it’s really not all about me. I had been brought into this group of phenomenally talented people from all across Georgia. Each one wanted the solo. Each one wanted the part. Each one wanted the stage. We all were after the same thing. The same thing goes in life. Many of your co-workers want the promotion. Many want the raise. Many want the next important role, etc. It’s not all about me. No one is going to make it about me. I have to work for what I want. I have to practice. I have to learn. I have to show that I want it more than others—whatever ‘it’ is.
5. Responsibility. Whose project was it? Mine. Whose show heifer was in the barn? Mine. Whose sheep were grazing out back? Mine. Who had to practice so that my song was the best it could be? Me. Who had to feed walk the show cattle after school no matter what time it might be when I got home from other activities? Me. Who had to feed and exercise the sheep before going to school each day? Me. Granted, I had two parents who greatly helped both me and my sister, maybe more than we like to reflect upon, but still the responsibility was mine. My projects = my work. The same goes for me in college or at work, it was my paper to write. It was my financial aid for which to apply. It’s my departmental plans that are due. Life is full of responsibility. There are consequences for not taking ownership where due. 4-H taught me to be responsible—in good times and in bad. What is your best 4-H memory? Growing up and through middle and high schools, we learn about our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., and we see the national news on television showing those towering landmarks like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the U.S. Capitol, and the White House. As a newly graduated student (summer 1996), I was fortunate to attend Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) in Washington, D.C. I was mesmerized to see these historical places in person—while, at the same time, learning all that CWF had to offer. We were also housed at the National 4-H Center just outside of D.C. The trip was amazing. I have been to D.C. 5-6 times since that 4-H trip, and I think back on the first visit very fondly.
What do you want people to know about 4-H?
It’s not all about cattle and sewing. The ‘old school’ mentality is simply outdated. Can one learn more about cattle and learn to sew a quilt? Sure! There’s so much more, though. Through 4-H, youth learn how to become a leader or a better leader and how to be a volunteer and think beyond oneself through participating in citizenship activities. 4-H is what one puts into it. Currently, I am a staff member for Clovers and Company—my fourth year. Most of the cast is generally amazed that 4-H even offers things like livestock show and judging events. That just shows how diverse the 4-H population is. Young and older youth, rural and urban, wealthy and not so wealthy—all can find benefits through 4-H.