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 Ashley Vetter, a proud alumna of Wood County 4-H who currently works as a self-employed creative director and graphic designer.
4-H has been a part of Vetter’s life for as long as she can remember. “I started attending meetings for the Beaver Creek Boosters 4-H Club as a Cloverbud alongside my older sister. My mom had been a part of the same club when she was a kid and then she served as our advisor, so we were fully immersed in 4-H.”
Vetter’s grandparents were also very involved in her 4-H experiences. They served as a source of support and encouragement throughout her 4-H career and could always be found at her and her cousins’ 4-H events. With the help of her mom, Vetter completed sewing projects every year, but she also has fond memories of making quilt squares with her grandma each year to enter in the quilt square contest at the Wood County Fair.
In addition to clothing projects, Vetter showed sheep at the Wood County 
Fair and completed a variety of art projects, which helped set the stage for her current career in graphic design. “I have always had an interest in art, so the creative arts projects offered through 4-H served as a great outlet for me.”
Outside of project work, Vetter was an active member of the Wood County Junior Fair Board and the Food and Fashion Board. She also served as a Junior Leader and volunteered as a camp counselor.
To this day 4-H camp still stands out as one of her favorite 4-H experiences. “It was always the most memorable week of the year,” she said. “I made lots of 
friends thanks to 4-H camp and, thankfully, many of them are still good friends now.”
“The Wood County Fair was also a highlight, particularly because it gave me the opportunity to spend more time with my grandparents and extended family,” said Vetter. “Since I was a kid, my family has camped together during the fair and we still continue this tradition today.”
After aging out of the 4-H program, Vetter attended Bowling Green State University where she majored in visual communication technology. She went on to do creative
design work for a variety of agencies until about five years ago when she started her own business, Ashley Vetter Design. Today, she works as a full-time freelancer and loves the freedom of getting to choose her own projects and fully manage her own business.
“I still use so many of the skills I developed in 4-H in my professional career. Project and time management are critical skills I learned thanks to my 4-H project work, and the public speaking and leadership skills I gained have been crucial in helping me run a small business and present in front of groups,” said Vetter. “The brainstorming techniques we used when planning 4-H 
camp are also strategies I continue to use now when working on projects.”
Vetter continues to support the Wood County 4-H program in a variety of ways as an adult. She serves as a club advisor for the Beaver Creek Boosters 4-H club, where her kids are members, volunteers on the Wood County 4-H Committee, and serves as president of the Wood County Clover Legacy Foundation.
“In addition to my volunteer work I’ve designed the Wood County 4-H Camp t-shirts nearly every year since college. It’s so great to be able to use the skills I have to give back to a program that has given me so much.”
Vetter also loves having the opportunity to work alongside some of the 4-H professionals who mentored her when she was a 4-H member. “Jenny Morlock, the 4-H program assistant in Wood County, is a 
creative spirit who I just adore. She served as a mentor for me when I was younger, and I am grateful to get to support the work she’s doing now.”
For current 4-H members, Vetter’s advice is simple. “Get involved in everything you can and stay involved after you’ve aged out. 4-H always needs more advisors and volunteers!”