Each month, we highlight an Ohio 4-H alum who has an amazing story to share—from their personal experience in 4-H, to how they have given back to the program. This month, we feature Jared Dosch, a proud alumnus of Muskingum County 4-H who currently works as a wealth management advisor with Dosch Wealth Management.
For Dosch, 4-H has always been a family affair. His mom and dad were both 4-H members in their youth, showing Jersey dairy cattle and market steers respectively. When Dosch and his brother were 
old enough, they joined the same club their dad had been a member of, the Jersey Ridge Happy Hustlers 4-H Club, and continued the family tradition of showing steers.
For the next ten years Dosch focused his project work on showing steers, but he also experimented with forestry and knot tying projects, for which he was selected to compete at the Ohio State Fair.
“I also took on a variety of leadership roles in Muskingum County,” said Dosch. “I served as a club officer, was the president of my county’s Jr. Fair Board, and represented Muskingum County at Ohio 4-H Conference and Citizenship Washington Focus.”
When Dosch recalls his fondest memories from his time as a 4-H member, he thinks back on his second to last year in 4-H. “That was the year I served as the president of the Jr. Fair Board and won showmanship and my division with my steer. It was an 
awesome experience, both in the showring and through the leadership experiences I gained.”
After aging out of 4-H, Dosch attended Ohio University Zanesville to pursue a career in finance, with the goal of joining the family business. “I always knew that this was what I wanted to do. I was one of those weird kids in the third grade who knew he would have a career in finance,” said Dosch. “Now, I’ve been a wealth management advisor for the past 21 years.”
Today, Dosch continues the 4-H tradition with his own family. He serves as an advisor for the Big Rascals 4-H Club alongside his wife, Sarah, who was a 4-H member in her youth. Their three children are also active 4-H’ers, taking lamb projects every year at the Muskingum County Fair.
Yet another way Dosch gives back is financially. “I was part of a group of volunteers who started a 501(c)(3) for the Muskingum County Reverse Raffle, 
which has helped raise more than $100,000 in support of 4-H,” Dosch said. “As a business owner, I also enjoy going to the county fair and bidding on animals. I remember what it was like when I was a 4-H’er, and it’s still one of my favorite weeks of the year now.”
At the end of the day, Dosch could not be more grateful for his time in 4-H. “I wouldn’t trade my years in 4-H for anything. I’m so fortunate that I had the experience I did and I’m grateful to be in the position today where I can give back with both time and money,” he said.
“For the current 4-H’ers out there, embrace it. You may not want to get in front of your club and lead a demonstration, but it helps you become a more well-rounded person. Through 4-H you develop interpersonal communication skills, learn about public speaking, and become more self-confident. There’s truly no other youth development program out there like 4-H.”