Why being a 4-H volunteer matters: Looking back on 30 years

In 2024-2025, Extension programs served 361,078 youth in Indiana, and of those, 58,217 youth were involved in local 4-H clubs. To achieve programming at this scale, 10,848 adults stepped up as 4-H volunteers. Their support helps youth learn not only practical skills but also how to be valuable members of the workforce and their communities.

Kristi Kretzmeier: Mentoring Learners

Summer days are for 4-H in the Kretzmeier household. If you’re looking for Kristi Kretzmeier, she’s likely caring for livestock in her sheep barn, encouraging 4-H'ers putting finishing touches on their projects, or watching over the cattle barn at the Indiana State Fair. You can usually find her husband volunteering at her side.

Her history as a Purdue Extension 4-H Youth Development volunteer goes back almost 30 years. She has led a 4-H club in Benton County since 2005, served as superintendent for the sheep projects at the Benton County fair and for the beef barn at the state fair, and worked all of the cattle shows for the 11 days of the state fair.

“One thing just leads to another,” she said. “They’re all activities we enjoy, and they fit our schedule with the farm.”

Kretzmeier started volunteering to give back to the community that she, her husband and her children grew up in.

“We did livestock projects as a family and spent our whole summer in the barn together,” Kretzmeier said. “When it came time for their other projects, I offered my help but didn't hover over them. My children learned how to carry through and finish what they started. I was there to help, but it was their responsibility to figure out what they're doing and how to get it finished.”

Kretzmeier uses the lessons she learned as a parent to help youth grow their responsibility and resilience. For example, Kretzmeier teaches 4-H'ers as young as 10 how to shear sheep. Many are intimidated at first, but gradually they build the skills to shear on their own.

The most rewarding part of volunteering, Kretzmeier says, is seeing youth excited about their projects. “There’s one 4-H member in high school that, when I ask her about her projects, her eyes light up. She was behind on a project, but when she had some of her projects done, she came to me and said, ‘Oh, Kristi, I want you to know I finally have an idea what I'm doing for my leather craft!’”

Kretzmeier encourages others to volunteer, even if it’s beyond their comfort zone.

“I love being outside and using my hands to do things, rather than sitting at a screen or a book. I think if other people see some of the things that I've done, maybe they’ll see they can help too.”

Heather Dunk: Serving Neighbors

When Heather Dunk joined Indiana 4-H in elementary school, she pledged her hands to larger service. Since then, she’s spent almost 30 years demonstrating that promise to hundreds of 4-H youth through her work as a volunteer in Tippecanoe County.

“4-H is an amazing experience for anybody,” Dunk said. “You don't have to live out in the country. You don't have to be in the city. You don't have to have lots of talent. You just have to want to try something new.”
Dunk supports youth with a variety of projects, such as photography, food and models, but she also teaches them how they can help their community neighbor, activities the club calls “Growing Kindness.”

“We became involved in community service years ago,” Dunk said. “We love being able to give back.”

Three youth in Dunk’s 4-H club, the Perry Wildcats, received Youth Engaged Service (YES) grants, awarded by the Indiana 4-H Foundation and sponsored by Corteva Agriscience and Rural 1st. Individual 4-H'ers lead each service project, but the whole club works together to improve their community. This year’s service projects are for Natalie’s Second Chance dog shelter, improving mental health for high schoolers and It’s My Closet, a free store open to all Lafayette School Corp. students and their families.

As a volunteer, Dunk coordinates service activities, such as creating shelf-stable birthday cake kits, and mentors youth as they develop skills they need to successfully lead projects. The work she and other volunteers do ensures the next generation of 4-H youth understand that showing up for your community, even in small ways, can make a difference.

She encourages adults to take the same approach: lending a hand and keeping an open mind to a new experience.

“There are always opportunities to help with 4-H,” Dunk said. “Think about what you can do for the community and how you can help. We always need a lot of volunteers. Even if it’s a little thing you can help with, it makes a difference.”