Charity Hackett

Charity Hackett is the club coordinator for one of the largest 4-H clubs in Berrien County, the We Can Ride 4-H Club. Part of the 4-H Proud Equestrians Program, the club focuses on teaching young people with disabilities horseback riding, showmanship, groundwork, and stable management.

Hackett helps young people with disabilities, who were once left sitting on the fence watching others fully participate, to experience the joy of horseback riding and see opportunities for themselves in agriculture. She excels at helping young people understand not just how, but why something is done, and at helping them work through feelings of nervousness, fear, or anxiety to grow their confidence and knowledge.

Hackett also works to ensure the club’s teen leaders are learning and growing. She encourages them to pursue further education, whether it be additional riding certifications, agriculture-related degrees, or career skills. Hackett also helps ensure the club is youth-driven, emphasizing the need for teen leadership on the club board and teen co-chairs on committees. She is eager to recognize 4-H’ers for their efforts, encouraging them to compete for awards, scholarships, and other recognition, and supporting them in acquiring the skills and knowledge they need to compete for these rewards.

Hackett, a former 4-H’er herself, has helped the We Can Ride 4-H Club become a safe environment where young people are empowered to feel heard, valued, and supported; where they increase their existing skills and develop new ones. The diversity among the members, teen leaders, and adult volunteers is vast, and Hackett has been a strong influence in increasing that diversity and building strong bonds among peers, teen leaders, and adult volunteers that benefit everyone.