List of 4-H alumni

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis raised a calf while a member.

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]

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

Political figures

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

• Howard Baker ^{[6] [7]}
• Birch Bayh ^{[6] [7]}
• Sam Brownback ^{[6] [7]}
• Dale Bumpers ^{[5] [6] [7]}
• Conrad Burns ^{[6] [7]}
• Ben Nighthorse Campbell ^{[3] [6] [7]}
• Thad Cochran ^{[5] [6] [7]}
• Mike DeWine ^{[6] [7]}
• Bob Dole ^[6]
• Byron Dorgan ^{[6] [7]}
• Wendell H. Ford ^{[6] [7] [8]}
• Bob Graham ^{[6] [7]}
• Judd Gregg ^{[6] [7]}
• Clifford Hansen ^{[6] [7]}
• Tom Harkin ^{[6] [7]}
• Orrin Hatch ^{[6] [7]}
• Mike Johanns ^{[6] [7]}
• Jon Llewellyn Kyl ^{[6] [7]}
• Mitch McConnell ^{[6] [7] [8]}
• Bill Nelson ^{[6] [7]}
• Sam Nunn ^{[6] [7]}
• Larry Pressler ^{[6] [7]}
• Pat Roberts ^{[6] [7]}
• W. Kerr Scott ^{[5] [7]}
• Jeff Sessions ^{[6] [7]}
• Paul Simon ^{[5] [6] [7]}
• Debbie Stabenow ^{[6] [7]}
• Steve Symms ^[7]
• Herman Talmadge ^{[5] [7]}
• Craig L. Thomas ^{[6] [7]}
• Strom Thurmond ^{[6] [7]}
• Malcolm Wallop ^[7]

Current and former U.S. Governors

Alabama

• George Wallace ^{[6] [7]}

Arkansas

• Asa Hutchinson

Georgia

• Roy Barnes ^{[6] [7]}
• Nathan Deal ^{[6] [7]}
• Sonny Perdue ^{[6] [7]}

Hawai'i

• John Waihee ^[7]

Iowa

• Terry Branstad

Kansas

• William H. Avery ^{[5] [7]}
• John W. Carlin ^{[5] [7]}
• Nancy Kassebaum ^{[6] [7]}

Kentucky

• Martha Layne Collins ^{[5] [7] [8]}
• Paul E. Patton ^[7]

Maine

• John Baldacci ^{[6] [7]}

Michigan

• John Engler ^{[6] [7]}

North Carolina

• Jim Hunt ^[7]
• Robert W. Scott ^{[5] [7]}

Oklahoma

Mary Fallin ^[7]

• Raymond D. Gary ^{[5] [7]}

North Dakota

• William L. Guy ^{[5] [7]}

Tennessee

• Buford Ellington ^{[5] [7]}

Utah

• Olene Walker ^{[6] [7]}

Vermont

• Jim Douglas ^[6]

Virginia

• Gerald L. Baliles ^{[6] [7]}

Wisconsin

• Tommy Thompson ^{[6] [7]}

Wyoming

• Mike Sullivan ^[7]

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

Current and former members of Congress include

• Carl Albert ^{[5] [7]}
• William Vollie Alexander Jr. ^{[6] [7]}
• John F. Baldwin Jr. ^{[5] [7]}
• Roscoe Bartlett ^[6]
• Rick Berg ^[6]
• Jaime Herrera Beutler ^[6]
• Tom Bevill ^[7]
• Rick Boucher ^{[6] [7]}
• Allen Boyd ^[6]
• William V. Chappell Jr. ^[7]
• Donald H. Clausen ^{[5] [7]}
• Eva M. Clayton ^[7]
• Howard Coble ^{[6] [7]}
• Tony Coelho ^{[5] [7]}
• Larry Combest ^{[6] [7]}
• Jim Cooper ^{[5] [6] [7]}
• George Darden ^[7]
• Robert William Davis ^[7]
• Roy Dyson ^[7]
• Bill Emerson ^[7]
• Glenn English ^{[6] [7]}
• Ronnie Flippo ^[7]
• William D. Ford ^{[6] [7]}
• Virginia Foxx ^{[6] [7]}
• Sam Gejdenson ^[7]
• William F. Goodling ^[7]
• James W. Grant ^[7]
• Ralph Hall ^{[6] [7]}
• John Paul Hammerschmidt ^[7]
• Katherine Harris ^[7]
• J.D. Hayworth ^{[6] [7]}
• Wally Herger ^{[6] [7]}
• Clyde Holloway ^[7]
• Jerry Huckaby ^[7]
• Kenny Hulshof ^{[6] [7]}
• Earl Hutto ^[7]
• Ed Jenkins ^[7]
• William L. Jenkins ^{[6] [7]}
• Chris John ^{[6] [7]}
• Ed Jones ^{[5] [7]}
• Ron Kind ^{[6] [7]}
• Jim Kolbe ^{[5] [6] [7]}
• Martin Lancaster ^{[5] [7]}
• Tom Latham ^{[6] [7]}
• Tiffany Lawrence ^[7]
• Jim Lightfoot ^[7]
• Koln McKay ^[7]
• John T. Myers ^[7]
• Sue Myrick ^{[6] [7]}
• William Flynt Nichols ^[7]
• Chip Pickering ^{[6] [7]}
• Graham Purcell ^{[5] [7]}
• Adam Putnam ^{[6] [7]}
• Ralph Regula ^{[6] [7]}
• J. Roy Rowland ^[7]
• Martin Sabo ^{[6] [7]}
• Daniel Schaefer ^{[6] [7]}
• Jim Slattery ^[7]
• D. French Slaughter ^[7]
• Bob Smith ^[7]
• Neal Edward Smith ^[7]
• Virginia D. Smith ^[7]
• John Sparkman ^{[5] [7]}
• Floyd Spence ^[7]
• David Stockman ^{[6] [7]}
• Bob Stump ^{[6] [7]}
• Mike Synar ^[7]
• Charles H. Taylor ^{[6] [7]}
• Gene Taylor ^{[6] [7]}
• Lindsay Thomas ^[7]
• Bennie Thompson ^{[6] [7]}
• Jill Long Thompson ^[7]
• Edolphus Towns ^{[6] [7]}
• Bob Traxler ^[7]
• Morris Udall ^{[6] [7]}
• Wes Watkins ^[7]
• Vin Weber ^[7]
• Jerry Weller ^{[6] [7]}
• Jamie Whitten ^{[5] [7]}
• Heather Wilson ^{[6] [7]}

Former Puerto Rico Senator Miguel Deynes Soto. ^[5]

Cabinet officials

• John Rusling Block ^{[6] [7]} and Ann Veneman, ^{[6] [7]} former secretaries of Agriculture

First Ladies

• Rosalynn Carter ^{[6] [7]}
• Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis ^{[3] [4] [6] [7] [9]}
• Pat Nixon ^{[6] [7]}
• Idaho First Lady Patricia Kempthorne ^[7]

Native Americans

• Ethel Branch ^[10]

Academics

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

• former Kansas State University President Duane Acker ^{[5] [7]}
• former Chancellor of Texas A&M University Perry Adkisson ^{[5] [7]}
• former U.S. Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander ^{[3] [6] [7]}
• Nobel Prize winners George Beadle ^{[5] [7]} and Daniel McFadden ^[6]
• former Arizona State University President Lattie Coor ^[7]
• Colorado State University System President Tony Frank
• Harvard University President Drew Gilpin Faust ^{[6] [7]}
• West Virginia University President Gordon Gee ^[7]
• Steve Gunderson of the Career Education Colleges and Universities
• Former University of Illinois President Stanley O. Ikenberry ^{[5] [7]}
• Former Yale University President Howard Lamar ^[7]
• Former Virginia Tech President William Edward Lavery ^{[5] [7]}
• Former University of New Hampshire President Joan Leitzel ^[7]
• Former Clemson University President Max Lennon ^{[5] [7]}
• Former Auburn University President James E. Martin ^{[5] [7]}
• Former Kent State University President Glenn Olds ^{[5] [7]}
• Former University of Nebraska President Ronald Roskens ^{[5] [7]}
• Former Penn State University President Graham B. Spanier ^[6]
• Former University of Maryland President John S. Toll ^{[5] [7]}
• Former Mississippi State University President Donald W. Zacharias ^[7]

Arts and literature

• Frank Herbert, American Science Fiction writer ^[11]
• Jim Davis, cartoonist ^{[4] [6] [7] [9]}
• Pulitzer Prize winning novelist John Updike ^{[4] [6] [7]}

Business and industry

Bill Mensch studied electronics as a 4-H member.

• Andrew Bosworth of Facebook ^{[13] [14]}
• Colby Chandler of Eastman Kodak ^{[5] [7]}
• Arnold W. Donald of Carnival Corporation
• Bob Evans ^[7]
• Ken C. Hicks of Footlocker ^[6]
• Bill Mensch of the Western Design Center ^[6]
• Javier Palomarez of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce ^[14]
• Harold Poling of the Ford Motor Company ^{[5] [7]}
• Orville Redenbacher ^{[3] [5] [6] [7]}
• Edward B. Rust Jr. of State Farm Insurance ^[7]
• Jesse W. Tapp of Bank of America ^{[5] [7]}
• Randall L. Tobias of Eli Lilly and Co. ^{[6] [7]}
• Leland Tollett of Tyson Foods ^[7]
• Frank L. VanderSloot of Melaleuca ^[6]
• Nancy Zieman of Sewing with Nancy ^{[5] [7]}

Entertainment and media

Julia Roberts.

• Anne Burrell of the Food Network ^{[13] [14]}
• Johnny Carson ^{[3] [6] [9]}
• Steve Doocy ^[7]
• Nancy Grace ^{[6] [7] [13]}
• Florence Henderson ^[6]
• Holly Hunter ^[6]
• Karen Kilgariff
• David Letterman ^[3]
• Miss America Jacque Mercer ^[7]
• Jim Nabors ^[6]
• Aubrey Plaza
• Donna Reed ^[6]
• Julia Roberts ^{[3] [4]}
• Sissy Spacek ^[6]
• Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat ^[6]

Military

General Hugh Shelton raised Hereford steers as a member.

• General Creighton Abrams ^[7]
• Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré ^[7]
• General Hugh Shelton ^[7]
• Brigadier General Wilma Vaught ^[7]

Music

• Roy Acuff ^{[5] [6]}
• Luke Bryan ^[3]
• Glen Campbell ^[6]
• Johnny Cash ^{[3] [6]}
• John Denver ^[6]
• Vince Gill
• Faith Hill ^{[3] [6] [9]}
• Jermaine Jackson ^[6]
• Reba McEntire ^{[3] [5] [6]}
• Sherrill Milnes
• Jennifer Nettles ^{[3] [6]}
• Randy Owen ^[3]
• Dolly Parton ^{[3] [4] [6] [9]}
• Charley Pride ^[6]
• Kevin Richardson ^{[3] [8]}
• Jean Ritchie ^[5]
• Roy Rogers ^{[3] [5] [6]}
• Ricky Skaggs ^{[6] [8]}
• Trisha Yearwood ^[3]

Sciences and technology

4-H alumni include the astronauts:

• Bonnie J. Dunbar ^[7]
• Ellison Onizuka ^[7]
• Jerry L. Ross ^[7]
• Alan Shepard ^{[3] [5] [6] [7] [9]}
• Peggy Whitson ^[7]
• Donald E. Williams ^[7]

Sports

Herschel Walker won the Heisman Trophy in 1982.

• Robert A. "Bob" Baffert, racehorse trainer ^[16]
• Johnny Bench ^{[6] [7]}
• U.S. Triple Crown jockey Steve Cauthen ^{[7] [8]}
• Olympic Gold Medal winner Stacy Dragila ^[7]
• NASCAR Champion Ned Jarrett ^{[3] [7]}
• Archie Manning ^[7]
• National Collegiate Basketball coach Pat Summitt ^[5]
• Dan Reeves ^{[3] [7]}
• Original owner of the Miami Dolphins Joe Robbie ^{[5] [7]}
• All-Time leading women's professional basketball scorer Katie Smith ^[7]
• Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker ^{[3] [6] [7]}
• Reggie White ^{[3] [6] [7]}

References

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. "Famous 4-H Alumni" (PDF). North Carolina State University. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
4. 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. "National 4-H Alumni Winners". 4-H History Preservation Program. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
6. "4-H Club". NNDB. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
7. "4-H Distinguished Alumni". National Association of Extension 4-H Agents. Archived from the original on February 12, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
8. 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. 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. "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. "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.