CFAES Give Today
Ohio 4-H Youth Development

Ohio State University Extension

CFAES

Faces of Ohio 4-H — Marcia Ruff

Marcia Ruff

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 Marcia Ruff, a proud alumna of Pickaway County 4-H who currently works as a reading intervention specialist at Westfall Elementary School.

Ruff joined the Jackson Livestock 4-H club as a third grader, but 4-H had been part of her life long before that point. “My dad was a 4-H’er in the same club as me when he was a kid, and I spent years tagging along to my brother’s 4-H meetings before I was able to join,” she said.

As a 4-H member, Ruff experimented with a variety of 4-H projects, completing everything from small engines to laundry. She also tried her hand and market and carcass steer projects,Ruff showing her pigs at the Pickaway County Fair. but throughout the years her passion for the market hog project, which she took alongside her brother for many years, remained consistent.

“Some of my favorite 4-H memories are from my time spent in the hog barn. Washing the hogs was always so much fun and I would trade with my brother so he would clean our pens, and I would wash the pigs.”

In addition to her project work, Ruff gained crucial leadership experience by volunteering on the Junior Fair Board, serving as a Junior Leader and a member of the Dairy Judging Team, and participating in opportunities like Citizenship Washington Focus.

She was also selected as the Pickaway County Fair Queen in 1992, giving her the opportunity to experience her county fair in a whole new way. “I not only traveled to other counties to attend their fairs, but I got to see more of the Pickaway County Fair than I ever had before,” said Ruff. “I’d never been to a horse or goat show prior to my time as queen, so it was really interesting to see how these shows worked.”

For Ruff, 4-H is all about learning new skills, trying new things, and understanding how to follow something through from beginning to end. “You learn to talk to new people and complete interviews with confidence. A friend of mine once said you can tell when a youth is in Ruff with her market steers during a show.4-H or FFA because they will look you in the eye and shake your hand.”

Today, Ruff works as an elementary school teacher and reading intervention specialist. “I think it was my destiny to become a teacher,” said Ruff. “I always knew I wanted to work with young children and as I complete my 29th year of teaching I can safely say that I’ve taught a little bit of everything.”

She also continues to give back to the Pickaway County 4-H program by serving as an advisor for the same club that she was a member in. “As the second oldest club in Pickaway County, Jackson Livestock recently celebrated its 90th anniversary. My kids have gone on to be members of the club as third generation 4-H’ers and it’s been a joy to see them grow over the years.”

“I have been involved with 4-H for 38 years now, so needless to say it’s played a humongous role in my life. I always tell kids that they will never regret the years they invest in 4-H and I’m so grateful that youth are continuing to choose 4-H.”