List of 4-H alumni

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis raised a calf while a member.

4-H alumni are represented across numerous professions, including politicians, entertainers, athletes, business individuals, and educators.

Political figures

Former President Jimmy Carter was a 4-H member.

Notable alumni include U.S. President Jimmy Carter, ^[2] and U.S. Vice Presidents Al Gore ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} and Walter Mondale. ^{[2] [5] [6]}

Current and former U.S. Senators

• Howard Baker ^{[5] [6]}
• Birch Bayh ^{[5] [6]}
• Sam Brownback ^{[5] [6]}
• Dale Bumpers ^{[4] [5] [6]}
• Conrad Burns ^{[5] [6]}
• Ben Nighthorse Campbell ^{[2] [5] [6]}
• Thad Cochran ^{[4] [5] [6]}
• Mike DeWine ^{[5] [6]}
• Bob Dole ^[5]
• Byron Dorgan ^{[5] [6]}
• Wendell H. Ford ^{[5] [6] [7]}
• Bob Graham ^{[5] [6]}
• Judd Gregg ^{[5] [6]}
• Clifford Hansen ^{[5] [6]}
• Tom Harkin ^{[5] [6]}
• Orrin Hatch ^{[5] [6]}
• Mike Johanns ^{[5] [6]}
• Jon Llewellyn Kyl ^{[5] [6]}
• Mitch McConnell ^{[5] [6] [7]}
• Bill Nelson ^{[5] [6]}
• Sam Nunn ^{[5] [6]}
• Larry Pressler ^{[5] [6]}
• Pat Roberts ^{[5] [6]}
• W. Kerr Scott ^{[4] [6]}
• Jeff Sessions ^{[5] [6]}
• Paul Simon ^{[4] [5] [6]}
• Debbie Stabenow ^{[5] [6]}
• Steve Symms ^[6]
• Herman Talmadge ^{[4] [6]}
• Craig L. Thomas ^{[5] [6]}
• Strom Thurmond ^{[5] [6]}
• Malcolm Wallop ^[6]

Current and former U.S. Governors

Alabama

• George Wallace ^{[5] [6]}

Arkansas

• Asa Hutchinson

Georgia

• Roy Barnes ^{[5] [6]}
• Nathan Deal ^{[5] [6]}
• Sonny Perdue ^{[5] [6]}

Hawai'i

• John Waihee ^[6]

Iowa

• Terry Branstad

Kansas

• William H. Avery ^{[4] [6]}
• John W. Carlin ^{[4] [6]}
• Nancy Kassebaum ^{[5] [6]}

Kentucky

• Martha Layne Collins ^{[4] [6] [7]}
• Paul E. Patton ^[6]

Maine

• John Baldacci ^{[5] [6]}

Michigan

• John Engler ^{[5] [6]}

North Carolina

• Jim Hunt ^[6]
• Robert W. Scott ^{[4] [6]}

Oklahoma

Mary Fallin ^[6]

• Raymond D. Gary ^{[4] [6]}

North Dakota

• William L. Guy ^{[4] [6]}

Tennessee

• Buford Ellington ^{[4] [6]}

Utah

• Olene Walker ^{[5] [6]}

Vermont

• Jim Douglas ^[5]

Virginia

• Gerald L. Baliles ^{[5] [6]}

Wisconsin

• Tommy Thompson ^{[5] [6]}

Wyoming

• Mike Sullivan ^[6]

Mitch McConnell is the current U.S. Senate Minority Leader.

Current and former members of Congress include

• Carl Albert ^{[4] [6]}
• William Vollie Alexander Jr. ^{[5] [6]}
• John F. Baldwin Jr. ^{[4] [6]}
• Roscoe Bartlett ^[5]
• Rick Berg ^[5]
• Jaime Herrera Beutler ^[5]
• Tom Bevill ^[6]
• Rick Boucher ^{[5] [6]}
• Allen Boyd ^[5]
• William V. Chappell Jr. ^[6]
• Donald H. Clausen ^{[4] [6]}
• Eva M. Clayton ^[6]
• Howard Coble ^{[5] [6]}
• Tony Coelho ^{[4] [6]}
• Larry Combest ^{[5] [6]}
• Jim Cooper ^{[4] [5] [6]}
• George Darden ^[6]
• Robert William Davis ^[6]
• Roy Dyson ^[6]
• Bill Emerson ^[6]
• Glenn English ^{[5] [6]}
• Ronnie Flippo ^[6]
• William D. Ford ^{[5] [6]}
• Virginia Foxx ^{[5] [6]}
• Sam Gejdenson ^[6]
• William F. Goodling ^[6]
• James W. Grant ^[6]
• Ralph Hall ^{[5] [6]}
• John Paul Hammerschmidt ^[6]
• Katherine Harris ^[6]
• J.D. Hayworth ^{[5] [6]}
• Wally Herger ^{[5] [6]}
• Clyde Holloway ^[6]
• Jerry Huckaby ^[6]
• Kenny Hulshof ^{[5] [6]}
• Earl Hutto ^[6]
• Ed Jenkins ^[6]
• William L. Jenkins ^{[5] [6]}
• Chris John ^{[5] [6]}
• Ed Jones ^{[4] [6]}
• Ron Kind ^{[5] [6]}
• Jim Kolbe ^{[4] [5] [6]}
• Martin Lancaster ^{[4] [6]}
• Tom Latham ^{[5] [6]}
• Tiffany Lawrence ^[6]
• Jim Lightfoot ^[6]
• Koln McKay ^[6]
• John T. Myers ^[6]
• Sue Myrick ^{[5] [6]}
• William Flynt Nichols ^[6]
• Chip Pickering ^{[5] [6]}
• Graham Purcell ^{[4] [6]}
• Adam Putnam ^{[5] [6]}
• Ralph Regula ^{[5] [6]}
• J. Roy Rowland ^[6]
• Martin Sabo ^{[5] [6]}
• Daniel Schaefer ^{[5] [6]}
• Jim Slattery ^[6]
• D. French Slaughter ^[6]
• Bob Smith ^[6]
• Neal Edward Smith ^[6]
• Virginia D. Smith ^[6]
• John Sparkman ^{[4] [6]}
• Floyd Spence ^[6]
• David Stockman ^{[5] [6]}
• Bob Stump ^{[5] [6]}
• Mike Synar ^[6]
• Charles H. Taylor ^{[5] [6]}
• Gene Taylor ^{[5] [6]}
• Lindsay Thomas ^[6]
• Bennie Thompson ^{[5] [6]}
• Jill Long Thompson ^[6]
• Edolphus Towns ^{[5] [6]}
• Bob Traxler ^[6]
• Morris Udall ^{[5] [6]}
• Wes Watkins ^[6]
• Vin Weber ^[6]
• Jerry Weller ^{[5] [6]}
• Jamie Whitten ^{[4] [6]}
• Heather Wilson ^{[5] [6]}

Former Puerto Rico Senator Miguel Deynes Soto. ^[4]

Cabinet officials

• John Rusling Block ^{[5] [6]} and Ann Veneman, ^{[5] [6]} former secretaries of Agriculture

First Ladies

• Rosalynn Carter ^{[5] [6]}
• Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis ^{[2] [3] [5] [6] [8]}
• Pat Nixon ^{[5] [6]}
• Idaho First Lady Patricia Kempthorne ^[6]

Native Americans

• Ethel Branch ^[9]

Academics

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

• former Kansas State University President Duane Acker ^{[4] [6]}
• former Chancellor of Texas A&M University Perry Adkisson ^{[4] [6]}
• former U.S. Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander ^{[2] [5] [6]}
• Nobel Prize winners George Beadle ^{[4] [6]} and Daniel McFadden ^[5]
• former Arizona State University President Lattie Coor ^[6]
• Colorado State University System President Tony Frank
• Harvard University President Drew Gilpin Faust ^{[5] [6]}
• West Virginia University President Gordon Gee ^[6]
• Steve Gunderson of the Career Education Colleges and Universities
• Former University of Illinois President Stanley O. Ikenberry ^{[4] [6]}
• Former Yale University President Howard Lamar ^[6]
• Former Virginia Tech President William Edward Lavery ^{[4] [6]}
• Former University of New Hampshire President Joan Leitzel ^[6]
• Former Clemson University President Max Lennon ^{[4] [6]}
• Former Auburn University President James E. Martin ^{[4] [6]}
• Former Kent State University President Glenn Olds ^{[4] [6]}
• Former University of Nebraska President Ronald Roskens ^{[4] [6]}
• Former Penn State University President Graham B. Spanier ^[5]
• Former University of Maryland President John S. Toll ^{[4] [6]}
• Former Mississippi State University President Donald W. Zacharias ^[6]

Arts and literature

• Frank Herbert, American Science Fiction writer ^[10]
• Jim Davis, cartoonist ^{[3] [5] [6] [8]}
• Pulitzer Prize winning novelist John Updike ^{[3] [5] [6]}

Business and industry

Bill Mensch studied electronics as a 4-H member.

• Andrew Bosworth of Facebook ^{[12] [13]}
• Colby Chandler of Eastman Kodak ^{[4] [6]}
• Arnold W. Donald of Carnival Corporation
• Bob Evans ^[6]
• Ken C. Hicks of Footlocker ^[5]
• Bill Mensch of the Western Design Center ^[5]
• Javier Palomarez of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce ^[13]
• Harold Poling of the Ford Motor Company ^{[4] [6]}
• Orville Redenbacher ^{[2] [4] [5] [6]}
• Edward B. Rust Jr. of State Farm Insurance ^[6]
• Jesse W. Tapp of Bank of America ^{[4] [6]}
• Randall L. Tobias of Eli Lilly and Co. ^{[5] [6]}
• Leland Tollett of Tyson Foods ^[6]
• Frank L. VanderSloot of Melaleuca ^[5]
• Nancy Zieman of Sewing with Nancy ^{[4] [6]}

Entertainment and media

Julia Roberts.

• Anne Burrell of the Food Network ^{[12] [13]}
• Johnny Carson ^{[2] [5] [8]}
• Steve Doocy ^[6]
• Nancy Grace ^{[5] [6] [12]}
• Florence Henderson ^[5]
• Holly Hunter ^[5]
• Karen Kilgariff
• David Letterman ^[2]
• Miss America Jacque Mercer ^[6]
• Jim Nabors ^[5]
• Aubrey Plaza
• Donna Reed ^[5]
• Julia Roberts ^{[2] [3]}
• Sissy Spacek ^[5]
• Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat ^[5]

Military

General Hugh Shelton raised Hereford steers as a member.

• General Creighton Abrams ^[6]
• Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré ^[6]
• General Hugh Shelton ^[6]
• Brigadier General Wilma Vaught ^[6]

Music

• Roy Acuff ^{[4] [5]}
• Luke Bryan ^[2]
• Glen Campbell ^[5]
• Johnny Cash ^{[2] [5]}
• John Denver ^[5]
• Vince Gill
• Faith Hill ^{[2] [5] [8]}
• Jermaine Jackson ^[5]
• Reba McEntire ^{[2] [4] [5]}
• Sherrill Milnes
• Jennifer Nettles ^{[2] [5]}
• Randy Owen ^[2]
• Dolly Parton ^{[2] [3] [5] [8]}
• Charley Pride ^[5]
• Kevin Richardson ^{[2] [7]}
• Jean Ritchie ^[4]
• Roy Rogers ^{[2] [4] [5]}
• Ricky Skaggs ^{[5] [7]}
• Trisha Yearwood ^[2]

Sciences and technology

4-H alumni include the astronauts:

• Bonnie J. Dunbar ^[6]
• Ellison Onizuka ^[6]
• Jerry L. Ross ^[6]
• Alan Shepard ^{[2] [4] [5] [6] [8]}
• Peggy Whitson ^[6]
• Donald E. Williams ^[6]

Sports

Herschel Walker won the Heisman Trophy in 1982.

• Robert A. "Bob" Baffert, racehorse trainer ^[15]
• Johnny Bench ^{[5] [6]}
• U.S. Triple Crown jockey Steve Cauthen ^{[6] [7]}
• Olympic Gold Medal winner Stacy Dragila ^[6]
• NASCAR Champion Ned Jarrett ^{[2] [6]}
• Archie Manning ^[6]
• National Collegiate Basketball coach Pat Summitt ^[4]
• Dan Reeves ^{[2] [6]}
• Original owner of the Miami Dolphins Joe Robbie ^{[4] [6]}
• All-Time leading women's professional basketball scorer Katie Smith ^[6]
• Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker ^{[2] [5] [6]}
• Reggie White ^{[2] [5] [6]}

References

1. "U.S. Presidents and 4-H". 4-H History Preservation Program. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
2. "Famous 4-H Alumni" (PDF). North Carolina State University. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
3. 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.
4. "National 4-H Alumni Winners". 4-H History Preservation Program. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
5. "4-H Club". NNDB. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
6. "4-H Distinguished Alumni". National Association of Extension 4-H Agents. Archived from the original on February 12, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
7. 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.
8. Broyles, Mathew (2006). Pole Bending. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 35. ISBN   978-1-4042-0547-5 . Retrieved January 31, 2017.
9. Schwartz, Faith (April 24, 2018). "Navajo Nation Attorney General Receives 4-H Luminary Award". University of Arizona . Retrieved August 6, 2023.
10. DUNE Author Frank Herbert on Environmentalism. He Said This in the 70's! , retrieved October 10, 2021
11. "Interview with William Mensch". Stanford University. October 9, 1995. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
12. "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.
13. "Alumni Stories". 4-H. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
14. 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.
15. 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.