Two of Union County’s senior 4-H members, Savannah Jones and Kennedy Hill, recently attended, along with other State Council members, a USVI (United States, Virgin Islands) Educational Exchange Trip. Thirteen youth and four advisors from across Tennessee took part in this opportunity to explore agriculture and youth development in a setting outside of their norms.

The teens traveled by plane to St. Croix, this being the first plane ride ever for Hill. They were inspired to take part as an opportunity to look into the culture and difference in their 4-H program. While there, 4-Hers were able to watch the sunrise from the easternmost point of the US.

It was a surprise to the students to see how similar the agriculture is to ours, even in such a different environment. They have cattle that look like those locally, even though they have very little to forage and a completely different diet overall. They grow backyard vegetables similarly, even though their soil quality is very different as well. Members share that something they truly learned from the experience is that we are ever so fortunate.

Jones says, “The St. Croix 4-Hers were some of the most adaptive and welcoming people I have ever met. They have a very successful program of about thirty kids. While their situation may not be ideal, i.e. they are not allowed in schools like our program, they only have one leader and one building, they are still making the best better. They welcomed all seventeen of us with open arms and treated us as if we were their own, despite our many differences.”

“Their 4-H program is completely different from ours, in many aspects, but they truly aspire to make the best better. They incorporate their community and have inspired me to do more in my own county programs,” states Hill.

The girls were both most impacted by the farewell dinner that was presented to the group on the last night of the visit. The Virgin Islands 4-Hers served the US members a five-course formal meal that they completely prepared themselves. They had elegantly decorated the banquet hall, and one of their 4-Hers even played steel drum for the group. Jones shares, “the island was a very beautiful and diverse place, both culturally and ecologically.” And Hill was heavily impacted by the simple way the Council was made to feel at home with warm welcoming and stories shared amongst the group.

Both young ladies became involved in 4-H through the local Union County Club with Extension Agent Shannon DeWitt, Hill in the swine project and Jones in poultry. Hill shares that the organization has given her many opportunities that she may have never experienced otherwise. The pair is heavily involved in 4-H having volunteered at the Governor's inauguration, hosting a 5k at the State Fair, attending an Ag Issues forum with Tennessee legislators, attending a conference on volunteerism, and so much more. They helped lead at the State 4-H Roundup and All Star Conference last week and received the highest honor that any Tennessee 4-Her can receive. Jones and Hill, along with other Union County 4-Hers Allyson Hanna and Joshua Sherritze were inducted as Vol State Members. This is a huge accomplishment that does not get earned easily through a collaboration of all phases of 4-H work, as well as service and leadership rendered in their communities.

Luckily, Union County is raising young leaders such as these youth. A future is being built with these culturally rounded youths.