Tennessee Tech Alumni Jamie Harris has been named the state program leader for 4-H Youth Development after serving in an interim capacity for more than two years.
Harris said she discovered a passion for informal education through the organization after initially planning to become a teacher. Harris said her career with the program includes 21 years as an agent in Warren County and seven years as an area specialist in Nashville.
“The vision, of course, is always we want to be the premier youth development program in the state of Tennessee,” Harris said. “But we want to make sure that we are preparing young people to be ready for life, to be ready for work, to be ready for careers. We want them to be future leaders and productive members of society. So that’s the goal.”
Harris said the organization currently serves approximately 151,000 members across all 95 counties in Tennessee. Harris said they focus on developing skills like public speaking and communication, and providing resources to local agents who work directly with the youth on a daily basis.
“I think a challenge that we’ve always faced, not only in Tennessee 4-H but in all youth organizations, is the transition from 4-H members being in fourth through eighth grade and being very active in 4-H and then when they transition to high school in ninth through twelfth grade, there are a lot of opportunities that become available,” Harris said. “You know, when you’re 16, you get that driver’s license, a lot of youth get their very first job, so I think it’s retention of youth through those high school years. And that’s not only in Tennessee 4-H but other youth organizations as well.”
Harris said the program addresses high school retention by offering scholarship opportunities and college credit for project work.
“A couple of years back at the University of Tennessee, we now have an opportunity for senior high youth to earn college credit through their 4-H project work,” Harris said. “And Tennessee 4-H is the first 4-H program in the nation to offer that college credentialing opportunity.”
Harris said she is a native of Pickett County who previously balanced her specialist duties while serving as the interim leader. Harris said the permanent appointment allows the office to move beyond maintaining continuity and focus on the future vision of the program.
“I’m really excited to focus my attention on programming, also working with our state specialists,” Harris said. “It’s been difficult the past years trying to balance both things. And you know, as an interim role, you just really try to keep the program going. You provide leadership and continuity and momentum, but now we can really focus on looking at the vision of 4-H and how we can continue to move it forward and make it even better.”
Harris said the summer camping season begins the last week of May at the Clyde York 4-H Center in Crossville.