Former 4-H member looks to give back to her community

By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

A former Crawford County 4-H member has found a home where she knew she always belonged: right among the clubs and members that shaped so much of her childhood.

Allison Cooper has taken over as the Crawford County 4-H youth development educator but her roots in the county 4-H program go much further back. With her sister already involved in 4-H, Cooper started out as one of the earliest groups of Cloverbuds to come through Crawford County. She continued on into 4-H, showing Angus cattle every July.

“I just started with one steer and it escalated from that. The most cattle I ever had there was,” Cooper paused to list and count each animal, “probably like seven. On top of that was Junior Fair Board and Department 1 projects.”

Cooper even took projects that were far from the traditional farm animal projects, such as cats, photography, cooking, and favorite foods. Both Cooper and her sister, Sarah Leitzy, had also qualified to compete at the state level multiple times with their speech and demonstration projects.

“I really think 4-H has kind of made me what I am into today,” Cooper said. “I learned so many different skills that I can apply to my life now. Leadership skills are crazy-good in 4-H.”

Cooper said those incredible leadership skills came from being involved not only in 4-H but also as a camp counselor and Junior Fair Board.

“You learn all these skills and how to become a good leader.”

She also credited her organizational skills to 4-H. “I could always be a little more organized but I like to think that some of that relates back to 4-H in how you have deadlines and you have to turn in all this paperwork ahead of time. It kind of gets you prepared for the future. And now, even more, they’ve started pushing work force prep.”

“I love it because I live here,” Cooper said with a laugh. “I like to think that overall our youth – sportsmanship wise – are really good. The youth from day one are in that competition so they get the importance behind it but they do appreciate the contest aspect of it and don’t really take it to heart when they don’t get grand champion.”

Cooper said she sees the competitors congratulating each other after wins. She said that sportsmanship comes about as the kids – oftentimes coming from different schools – get to know each other through the various programs and competitions.

“It’s more about the friendships you make than the actual winning part of it.”

“I think that’s one of our biggest things,” Cooper said. “That’s one thing I see all the time. They know it’s okay to not be number one.”

And it’s not unusual for many of the 4-Hers to be second or third generations competing against each other, one of the great things about competing in Crawford County.

“You’ll see certain groups get together and then their siblings hang out together,” Cooper said. “I definitely think it kind of creates a multidimensional friendship where you get all these kind of overlaps.”

After graduating high school and finishing her final years in 4-H, Cooper left for the University of Akron where she started studying early childhood education. But she never lost her love of 4-H and volunteered any chance she got. Cooper said she loved interacting with youth and teaching them new things but it just never felt right whenever she tried teaching in a formal setting.

Finally, her sister made the suggestion to pursue a way to stay involve in 4-H. Cooper then enrolled at The Ohio State University where she got bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agriculture and extension education.

Cooper has now taken over the reins from long-time 4-H coordinator Brenda Young, who retired at the end of October after 26 years. Young had served the last six years as 4-H coordinator in Crawford County. Cooper laughingly said she has big shoes to fill but with the support of the extension office staff and Young just a call away, Cooper has tackled the job with enthusiasm.

“It’s a little daunting. I don’t want Brenda to be disappointed in me,” Cooper said. “I’ve looked up to her forever and I’ve looked up to her as a role model. I think she did a lot of great things for Crawford County and I don’t want to disappoint her in this role.”

Cooper has been the head of Crawford County 4-H for a month now and has been enlightened by how much goes on behind the scenes to keep the local 4-H wheel going round.

“That first week my goal was just to get into the program, see how it’s going, possibly write down new ideas, jot down things I see. Come in to it just being open-minded and learning,” Cooper explained. “Well, so far that hasn’t been how it’s going. There are certain things that needed changed and we’re going it.”

Cooper has been rolling with the punches, however. “You’re the educator. You’re in charge,” she said. “You have to make some decisions and change stuff around to better the program.”

Right now, Cooper is working on transitioning from a volunteer to an educator. A youth development educator plans the necessary programs for the youth, adult volunteers, and the Cloverbuds and stands as a guide for the 4-H program.

As of right now, Cooper said there are no new programs set to begin but she hopes once things get going they will be able to implement a few ideas that are sitting on the back burner.

“I’m thrilled. Absolutely thrilled,” Cooper said. “I can’t really picture myself doing anything else. I’m so excited that I found this opportunity and that I was given opportunity to come back to my home town. What a better way to participate in all those years and then give back by coming here and making the program better.”

Cooper paused to share an interesting fact. She said that 4-H kids are 20 percent more likely to give back to their home towns than non-4-H members.

“I like to think that I’m kind of the living example,” Cooper said with an excited smile. “Can come back, help out the program, and make it better. I’m thrilled to be here and really excited. It is, like I said, really daunting and there’s a lot of stuff you’ve got to learn and a lot of paperwork and things every day.”

Even with the daunting tasks and learning the ropes while in the field, Cooper said the benefits are worth it.

“I get to interact with youth. I love to hang out with kids and help them learn. I get to work with adults, which is unique that I get to work with both age groups, but I think it’s kind of all the behind-the-scenes stuff of 4-H that I never knew. I love it.”