WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Madison (Maddie) Powell, a ten-year Indiana 4-H alumna from Tipton, Indiana, is a newly elected member of the National 4-H Council’s Young Alumni Advisory Committee (YAAC). She is one of eleven young 4-H alumni selected to ensure youth voices are heard and incorporated in decisions made by the National 4-H Council and its board of trustees.
Powell, a second-year student at Purdue University, will serve on YAAC for three years. As she looks forward to growing her leadership and communication skills, she credits her past 4-H experiences. In this role, Powell will speak with current 4-H participants and share ideas and suggestions with the National 4-H Council.
“Mental wellness is a passion that I hope to shed light on during my time serving on the YAAC. 4-H has excellent wellness programs available, including ones taught by Indiana 4-H Teens as Teachers. I want to spark more conversations on the importance of youth mental wellness,” said Powell.
Not a stranger to 4-H leadership roles, Powell is currently an intern at the Indiana 4-H Youth Development office and was selected this past spring as one of five 4-H representatives to join students from FFA, Agriculture Future of America (AFA) and MANRRS for National Ag Day Training and Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C.
“Maddie is among our top 4-H alumni in the state and will be a strong advocate for youth voices on the Young Alumni Advisory Council. Maddie will share the successes of Purdue Extension’s Indiana 4-H program, and I also look forward to her bringing other states’ innovative ideas to implement in our program,” said Casey Mull, Purdue Extension assistant director and program leader for 4-H Youth Development.
“Being selected to serve on YAAC and be an ambassador for the youth program that shaped me into the young adult I am today is nothing short of amazing. I would be remiss if I did not take this time to thank my 4-H mentors including my Extension Educator and our state specialists who saw my ability to take giant leaps and make the world better every day,” added Powell.