• By Monique Pearce-Brady
• Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2022

4-H Grows Leaders and Gives Students a Devotion to Helping Others

Aisha Booth-Horton says 4-H has greatly benefited her students at Quality Education Academy, allowing them to serve their community while growing as leaders. Aisha is director of Student Services at QEA, where she supports students in a variety of ways including hosting college fairs and helping them find scholarships. She’s been involved with 4-H for at least 10 years. She learned about the program from an impromptu conversation with other teachers and immediately knew she needed to bring 4-H to her school. “I believe when young people invest in their community they grow into adults who will do the same,’ said Aisha. “The program offered the opportunity for students to learn how to garden, present in front of their peers and travel to participate in many leadership ventures. Those attributes alone support the vision of our school and I knew I had to join.”

Her 4-H club’s projects include maintaining a garden and adopting a street, which they clean up regularly. They volunteer to help with voter registration and tutoring. They host annual visits to local assisted living facilities. They also serve as ushers and greeters for local theaters, the 4H teen retreat, the plant sale, food drives, and more. “My students have a greater devotion to helping others and they have developed a special love for their community as a whole,” said Aisha.

She said she would encourage others to join 4-H or start a 4-H club, because it lets students known how much their community, and the world, needs them. “Students need to know with each contribution of time, energy, and effort they give, everyone will benefit,” said Aisha “It is my hope that more students of color will join this amazing organization and gain the opportunities to acquire agricultural skills, and build lasting relationships with other clubs across the state.”

For more information, email, April Bowman, Extension Agent, Livestock, Forages, and 4-H Youth Development at awbowman@ncsu.edu or call 336-703-2855 or Dr. Monique Pearce-Brady, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development at dmpearc3@ncsu.edu or call 336-703-2856.