Brittany Osborne (12) works on a community service project for 4-H, serving with the State Teen Council.  Photos courtesy of Brittany Osborne

Maria Miller

Editor in Chief

  

    4-H is a powerful organization.  Its ideals touch the lives of adolescents all over the country. 4-H allows students to grow in leadership skills, communication skills, and moral skills, but most of all 4-H is an environment in which young people can find who they truly are. Some students participate in 4-H events only occasionally, enjoying the fun aspects of the program.  But for a select few, 4-H is much, much more.  These students truly embody the mission statement of 4-H and attempt to live its principles every day, making theirs and others’ lives more meaningful.  The one person who truly encompasses everything for which 4-H stands is Lone Oak High School senior Brittany Osborne.

    Brittany has been involved with 4-H since she was 8 years old. “It all started with 4-H camp,” she says.  She’s been going to the camp for 8 years now and has served as a teen counselor for 3 years. But this is only the beginning of the long list of things Brittany does for 4-H.  She has been involved with the McCracken County Teen Club since the 7th grade, for which she has served President for 2 years and Vice President for 1 year and with which she participates in community service projects and plans 4-H trips for McCracken Co. She is part of the Area Teen Council, which plans 4-H events for the Purchase Area and recruits new members.  Because of her commitment, she was selected to represent District 7 on the State Teen Council (she is the Co-Captain of the Luncheon Committee.)  The State Teen Council plans events for the entire state of Kentucky. The Council meets in four business sessions per year, where they discuss problems 4-H has and ways to overcome them.

     This year, Brittany was Master of Ceremonies for the 40th annual Rotary 4-H Award Luncheon. She won the Outstanding Leadership Award in both 2008 and 2011. She just returned from 4-H Teen Summit, a leadership conference for middle schoolers taught by the State Teen Council of which she is a member. 

    Brittany has gone to countless 4-H camps and conferences over the years.  But one   is particularly prestigious: the 4-H Teen Issues Conference in 2011, a conference that only invites the best of the best in 4-H.  Her incredible commitment to 4-H was evident there.  Her passion for the program and her professionalism reflected everything the conference discussed and encouraged.  After the conference, Brittany reflected, “The people, places, and experiences are all once in a lifetime, but the memories are endless.”

    Brittany also puts her musical talents to work by singing and playing guitar for several different 4-H functions.  She was in the Teen Conference Talent Group.  She performed at the Kentucky State Fair for 3 days while working in “Cloverville,” the 4-H section of the fair.  She was also the entertainment at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facilities at the North Central 4-H camp in July. 

      Brittany is currently running to be a 4-H state officer for 2012-2013, a position of high honor.  4-H state officers are the face of Kentucky 4-H.  They plan State Teen Council meetings, give speeches to each county in Kentucky, and work with the leader of KY 4-H, Mark Mains.  The president of 4-H presides over meetings and speaks at every 4-H event, as well as the state fair.  She will go to interview for office on April 28.

    Brittany speaks of her involvement in 4-H:  “It’s hard to describe to someone who has never experienced a moment in 4-H.  But maybe those who have ever found a 4-leaf clover can relate to the feeling of being completely enchanted in the moment with luck and glee.  With 4-H that enchantment has never left me.”

    In addition to her commitments to 4-H, Brittany also works two jobs (Hollister & Co. and Journeys), plays indoor soccer, and is the President of the FBLA club.  At the FBLA regional competition, she won 1st place in Most Talented and 3rd place in Public Speaking.  She is in Beta Club, and placed 1st in oil pastels at this year’s Beta Club state competition.  She’s in the Gifted and Talented Instrumental and Vocal program for McCracken County Schools.  She also has a heavy course load, taking 3 AP classes this year.

“The people, places, and experiences are all once in a lifetime, but the memories are endless.”

Brittany poses with the current Teen Council representing District 7.

Brittany performs at the Talent Show during the 4-H Teen Conference.

“4-H Youth Development is an educational movement, which was created to help youth understand their dependence upon nature’s resources and to value the fullest development of hand, head, and heart.  It originated in the early 1900’s as ‘four-square education’ with its four main ideas including educational development, fellowship development, physical development, and moral development.”  - Note from the 4-H National Headquarters