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When Kelsie Pittman joined at age 8, she did so for her love of animals. 鈥淎nimals have been my entire life. I鈥檝e always felt most comfortable working with and showing animals,鈥� says Pittman. Animals were a safe, friendly audience. They wouldn鈥檛 criticize her if she made a mistake while speaking or didn鈥檛 communicate something clearly.

But Pittman, now 17, found that her perspective transformed when she joined the 4-H Youth Leadership Team (YLT) program last year. And all it took was jumping out of a tree. 鈥淭aking part in the Youth Leadership Team has pushed me out of that comfort zone. I鈥檝e changed a lot,鈥� she says.

A national youth development organization, 4-H empowers young people through experiential learning programs that promote valuable leadership skills. In 易胜博官网, 4-H is organized through . More than 20,000 youth across the state participate in 4-H clubs and programs, which offer hands-on experiences in areas ranging from citizenship and healthy living to agriculture and STEM fields.

Leadership development is one of 4-H鈥檚 primary aims, and a recent $15,000 gift to 易胜博官网 4-H from an anonymous donor has provided new learning opportunities for YLT participants, including a team-building activity day at Candia Springs Adventure Park in Candia and a leadership retreat at Camp Calumet in Freedom.

At Candia Springs, Pittman and her peers walked across treetop suspension bridges and rappelled 40 feet down to the forest floor, all while learning how to conquer fear, trust each other and become leaders. 鈥淚t was very educational,鈥� Pittman says. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e jumping out of a tree, it鈥檚 about learning how to get over fear. It鈥檚 something I鈥檝e been able to use in helping with my public speaking skills.鈥�

Your Philanthropy Creates Possibilities

To make a gift to endow a fund or support a program, or if you鈥檙e considering a bequest, contact Troy Finn听at (603) 862-4940 or听troy.finn@unh.edu.

Pittman has come a long way in a short time. Where once she might have avoided speaking in public or passed on leading a learning session in her Rockingham County 4-H club, she now rises to those challenges. She鈥檚 taking on more responsibilities in her club, such as finding opportunities for youth to work with animals and reaching out to parents and other 4-H鈥檈rs. 鈥淵LT has taught me how to work with everyone, from younger kids to seasoned 4-H鈥檈rs, to teach them how to work together and to make the best better,鈥� she says.

In short, YLT and 4-H have prepared her for a lifetime of leadership.

鈥淚 might not have had the chance to learn these things if I was just with my livestock or in school,鈥� she says. And, budding leader that she is, Pittman hopes other 易胜博官网 youth will follow her example. 鈥淚 think youth should take the jump. It really opens a lot of doors.鈥�

Originally published in听IMPACT听Spring 2018

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