Explore the 4-H’s Beyond Ready Impact Report—learn what’s possible when youth are given the tools to lead.

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A Front-Row Seat to 4-H's 2025 Impact ([link removed] )

Dear John,

2025 was an extraordinary year to be part of the 4‑H community, and one that I will always carry with me.

Before sharing a few personal highlights, I encourage you to take a moment to explore 4‑H's Beyond Ready Impact Report, which captures the scale of what young people and communities achieved together this past year.

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Serving on National 4‑H Council Young Alumni Advisory Committee (YAAC) and on the Board of Trustees gives me a front‑row seat to the scale and heart of this organization. From advancing the Beyond Ready initiative and working toward the 2030 goal of supporting ten million young people with future‑ready skills, to seeing local impact translate into national momentum, this year reaffirmed why 4‑H remains among the most trusted and effective youth development movements in the world.

A few personal highlights from 2025:

- Ignite 2025 was a truly full‑circle moment for me. Over 1,500 youth arrived in DC ready to be inspired and make community impact, and I had the honor of serving on a keynote panel alongside Jenna Bush Hager, fellow alumni, and current 4‑H'ers who are making a difference in their communities. I'm looking forward to Ignite this spring, where we're expecting 1,800 participants!

- At Ignite, I also led a workshop and, perhaps most meaningfully (and fun!), found myself chaperoning younger participants from my hometown and stepping into the same role once held by the adults who believed in me years ago.

- Throughout the year, I leaned heavily on the skills I gained through 4‑H, like entrepreneurship, leadership, public speaking, collaboration, and service. These skills helped me launch my own nonprofit that supports communities nationwide through youth‑driven solutions.

- As a member of the YAAC, I serve alongside 10 young alumni 4‑H leaders to elevate youth voice in national decision‑making. Working with the National 4‑H Council Board of Trustees, we help advance the 4‑H mission by bringing youth perspectives to the table. In October, I reunited with my YAAC teammates in San Francisco, where we welcomed five new members, expanded alumni engagement opportunities, strengthened relationships with Cooperative Extension and supporters, and deepened partnerships at Google and YouTube headquarters.

- Then, in December, I was deeply honored to be elected as a new Trustee of National 4‑H Council. We celebrated our year's work and the future alongside Tractor Supply at the Nasdaq bell ringing in New York City.

As I look ahead, I know 2026 will be one of 4‑H's strongest years yet. As a proud Florida 4‑H alumnus, I'm excited to kick off the year in Tallahassee for Florida 4‑H Day at the Capitol and continue advocating for opportunities that ensure young people across the country can succeed. I'm grateful for the trust placed in me and energized to help steward the future of an organization that has shaped my life in countless ways.

If you haven't yet, I hope you'll explore 4‑H's Beyond Ready Impact Report ([link removed] ) . It's an incredible snapshot of what's possible when young people are given the tools to lead.

With gratitude,

Taylor Thigpen

National 4‑H Council Trustee, YAAC Member, and Florida 4‑H Alumnus

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