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 Hannah Thompson, agriculture teacher at Meigs High School and a proud alumna of Vinton County 4-H.
“As a fourth-generation 4-H member, my family has always said we bleed green,” said Thompson. Growing up, she was a member of the Town and Country Hillbillies 4-H Club, a club her grandparents started in 1974 when her dad was a 4-H’er. The club has been a labor of love for her family for five decades and counting, and she doesn’t see that ending anytime soon. “After starting the club, my grandparents served as advisors until my parents joined them. Recently, my sister and I signed on to help advise the club alongside my parents.”
Throughout the course of her 13-year career in 4-H, Thompson showed a wide variety of livestock projects, including market hogs, goats, and beef. “Hogs were always my main focus, but I also made sure to take one non-livestock project each year, so I was always trying new things.”
Outside of project work, Thompson was a Junior Leader, State 4-H Ambassador, and member of the CARTEENS program. She also served as the Vinton County Junior Fair Queen in 2010 and volunteered as a 4-H camp counselor. “Going to 4-H camp was a tradition in my family, so much so that my dad continued to come back each year as an adult volunteer,” said Thompson. “Those four days of camp always felt like magic, and it was so exciting to get to see friends again. It was a family reunion of sorts that I looked forward to every summer.”
Today, Thompson has followed in her family’s footsteps as she gives back to the Vinton County 4-H program in more ways than one. In addition to advising the Town and Country Hillbillies 4-H Club, she serves as president of the county 4-H advisory council, is co-chair of the levy committee, and sits on the Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp board. In the summers, when she’s not teaching agriculture or advising the local FFA chapter at Meigs High School, she works as a 4-H program assistant in the Vinton County Extension office and volunteers at 4-H camp.
“I’m so grateful that I still get to be involved in 4-H as an adult and I love getting to volunteer alongside my family,” said Thompson. “4-H has done so much for me, and I take every opportunity to share about how great this program is. I can thank 4-H for my leadership and interview skills, and I likely would not have developed such a strong work ethic if not for 4-H.”
Thompson is also never shy about sharing the benefits of 4-H with her students. “As an ag teacher and FFA advisor, I’m constantly encouraging my kids to get involved in 4-H. It’s a great way to build a strong foundation for any career they want to pursue, and I love sharing about all the cool projects they can try.”
“I always tell the kids in my club to take every opportunity 4-H offers,” she said. “It’s okay to find a project area you like and explore that, but it’s important not to close yourself off to new experiences. 4-H offers so many opportunities and experiences that you can’t get through other organizations, so take advantage of it whenever you can!”