Donna Budd, a former 4-H’er who grew up on a farm, is committed to teaching future generations about 4-H and agriculture. A 4-H volunteer since 2008, Budd has held many leadership positions, including club leader for the Superstock 4-H Club and chairperson of the Wayne County 4-H livestock protégé program, the youth community engagement committee, and the junior livestock board. In each role, Budd works to offer young people hands-on agricultural experiences and opportunities to learn skills they will need to be successful in the future.
Budd ensures her 4-H club is youth-driven, helping members build confidence, make decisions, and learn responsibility and a positive work ethic. She believes strongly in record-keeping, emphasizing how learning this life skill will help 4-H’ers market themselves and build their organizational skills. Budd has used her personal passions and connections to expand opportunities for 4-H’ers, taking them to goat shows, to meet industry professionals, to tour greenhouses, and to learn about commercial crop production.
In return for all she gives, Budd asks club members to prioritize giving back, making the club well known for their efforts around the fairgrounds and in other community service initiatives. They plant and maintain flower beds, help with community dinners, bring their animals to events, and have even planted a community garden so that fair campers could enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables.
Beyond the Superstock 4-H Club, Budd has given considerable time as the chair of Wayne County’s 4-H livestock protégé program. Through this initiative, young or new 4-H’ers pick a project area that interests them and are then paired with a more experienced 4-H’er to learn from before fully committing to the project on their own. Originally, the protégé program was only open to Cloverbuds. Budd helped expand the program to members of any age who were new to 4-H, hoping to ignite a spark that would grow into a future love for agriculture.
No matter the program or project area, Budd consistently advocates for youth and their voice, believing they are the future of 4-H and agriculture.
