Mollie Kate Webb embodies the traditional as well as the contemporary about Kentucky 4-H.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There is no mistaking the four-leaf clover logo and green jackets of Kentucky 4-H, both synonymous with an organization that has served students and this state for generations.

Barren County High School senior Mollie Kate Webb is a part of this continuing tradition as this year’s state 4-H president. Her roots in 4-H go back almost as long as she can remember.

“I've grown up in the 4-H program and started as a Cloverbud at age five, showing cattle with my family. showing cattle,” she said. “Cloverbuds can be five to eight years old, but the official 4-H age was nine, so I started as young as I possibly could, and from that point on the rest was history.”

As a person who has grown up on the farm, she is quite familiar with the 4-H ties to agriculture. But she also sees a vast array of other activities available to all members.

“Some of my favorite 4-H projects have consisted of giving speeches and interview contests, but also getting to try new things like going to Forestry Field Day, going to conferences, and meeting bright youth around the Commonwealth,” she said.

Today’s 4-Hers have several program areas in which they can participate including, Agriculture, Family and Consumer Science, Health, Communication, Leadership, Natural Resources, and Science, Engineering and Technology.

“We've stuck to many of our traditional programs like the country ham project, but we really want to try to prepare our youth for the future, and the best way to do that is just to keep up with what the future is projecting,” Webb said.

She also noted that many 4-H members have a variety of interests, something the organization recognizes and embellishes.

“You can love science and also love art and also love agriculture,” she said. “So, that's what I think is the benefit of 4-H in that there is truly something for everybody. That's how we generate the best new leaders, by giving them the opportunity to experience everything.”

From her leadership perspective, Webb began thinking about the role she now serves in many years ago.

“When I was eight years old, I actually saw my first ever state officer,” she said. “So, even before I was of official 4-H age, I saw the green jacket and I knew that I wanted to be in one of those someday. So, getting that green jacket was such a full circle moment for me.”

Webb said her fellow 4-H officer team members likely have similar stories to hers’ and being involved in the organization has helped them all achieve this goal.

“I think that's the beauty of 4H. They've all been able to take their stories and use this organization to turn themselves into a committed and service-oriented leader,” she said. “I know some officers on our team never imagined themselves in this position, but they grew to develop confidence through 4-H to see that they could hold a position like this, and I think those are just amazing stories to tell.”

While Webb and many other 4-Hers get an early start with their involvement, she said there are valuable opportunities even for those who discover 4-H many years later.

“I do see a lot of students who join later on but there are some awesome stories of 4-Hers who joined as a state team council member, their first year of ever being in 4-H just because they heard about the opportunity to be a leader and they took that opportunity,” she said. “The great thing about this program is that it gives those students the opportunity to thrive even though they might not have any 4-H background.”

From an agricultural perspective, Webb, having grown up on her family’s cattle farm, said 4-H helps prepare students to advocate for the industry.

“4-H has really trained me on how to be a great advocate for the agriculture industry and with an organization that is so passionate about its agricultural roots, I've learned to not only appreciate where my organization has come from, but where I as a person have today, as a prime advocate and agriculturalist,” she said.

There are a lot of life choices 4-Hers can make as they make their way through the program. As for Webb, she believes she will stay connected to her agricultural heritage.

“My current goal for the future is to get an agricultural communications degree and eventually become a lobbyist or an agriculture lawyer,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to make a positive impact on the agriculture industry as a whole, especially here in Kentucky.”