Career sparks come from people, experiences, and programs, including UConn 4-H. For Tahlia Watson of Bloomfield that spark was joining 4-H and participating in animal projects, leadership, and civic engagement programs. “I always liked animals and have a lot of pets, but never thought of it as a career until I joined UConn 4-H and saw everything else that’s possible besides just being a veterinarian or working with therapy animals. I thought animals were just a hobby before 4-H.”

The senior at Northwest Catholic High School is applying to the animal science program in UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources and then exploring various career paths before selecting one. Tahlia is a member of the Merry Moo-ers 4-H Club, based in Enfield, and part of UConn 4-H Hartford County. She started 4-H six years ago after visiting the 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm in Bloomfield with her class. Tahlia and her mom returned for visits and volunteered, before joining their 4-H club.

“The most challenging part of 4-H is the first time you work with a project after animal assignments,” Tahlia shares. “My first year, my calf was the easiest to work with and the second year, my calf was more challenging. I learned to adapt with what you’re given. It’s also the most rewarding part of being in 4-H.”

Tahlia also started competing in public speaking and joined the Hartford County 4-H Fair Association. As Vice President of Livestock of the fair association this year, her responsibilities included facilitating and managing all livestock activities for the fair. She enjoys working with the youth fair association, including those older and younger than herself, making friends, and seeing how it all comes together. These vital interpersonal and project management skills serve 4-H members throughout their lives.

This past year, Tahlia served on the Northeast States Urban 4-H Teen Council. This leadership opportunity included youth from four states and the District of Columbia and empowered them to positively impact in their communities. Each youth selected a community service project that they conducted and then presented the results to the cohort. Tahlia created care kit packages for the House of Bread, a non-profit in Hartford, and presented her work in June. She plans to continue volunteering with House of Bread and is working with their leadership team to identify areas where she can be impactful in the coming year.

UConn 4-H continues sparking opportunities for Tahlia, she represented UConn 4-H at Ag Day at the Capitol and attended UConn 4-H’s Citizenship Day at the Capitol in Hartford this past April and was a delegate at the National 4-H Dairy Conference in Madison, Wisconsin this fall. While the future may present challenges, one thing is certain, Tahlia Watson will adapt and succeed.

Donald R. Beebe, a UConn 4-H New London County volunteer, is the northeastern regional winner of the 2024 National 4-H Salute to Excellence Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award. Don’s involvement with 4-H began at the age of eight growing up on his grandfather’s dairy farm, and he is the first to tell you how much 4-H impacted his life. Since the mid-1990s’ he has served as a 4-H volunteer and has dedicated his life to supporting the positive development of young people through his leadership of the New London County 4-H Foundation which oversees the New London County 4-H Camp.  

Aside from camp, Don oversees approximately 60 teens and a dozen adult volunteers as the 4-H Teen Ambassador program leader. Over the last 25-plus years, the Teen Ambassador program has provided life skills and leadership development for countless teens throughout Eastern Connecticut and beyond. These youth also comprise much of the teen leadership and junior staff at the 4-H camp in the summer months.  

“Throughout my time in 4-H, Don Beebe’s name has been synonymous with the New London County 4-H Camp. You cannot go a day during the summer without seeing Don at the camp at one point or another. He may be there to make a camper’s day by showing up with ice cream or he might be taking off his suit coat and rolling up his sleeves because a toilet in the bathhouse is clogged. Don’s dedication to the camp and more importantly the campers is truly inspiring to me and many other teens who hope to someday have a leadership role in making this program a success.”  Sawyer B., Teen Ambassador

Don helps hone the leadership skills of youth in positive ways through the Teen Ambassador program. He empowers youth by promoting the skills necessary to be successful members of the community. Through leadership opportunities at camp, these youth learn to meet challenges and find creative solutions through their interactions with campers and other staff members. Don always tries to empower his youth to have a say in their own path. Whether it is encouraging a camper to try a new activity they may not have experienced before or challenging his teens to put newly learned skills into action, Don always entrusts youth with the ability to determine their own path.  

As a trial attorney, Don has a deep appreciation for what makes 4-H special. He is very focused on ways to protect that. He strives to guarantee that all the places he’s responsible for are available, safe, and welcoming to all young people. Don Beebe has dedicated much of his adult life to ensuring that youth can experience the many benefits of 4-H that he experienced through the diverse ways he serves the UConn 4-H program in New London County and beyond, and for that, the UConn Extension 4-H Program is truly grateful. 

I was fortunate to be selected for the 2024 Citizenship Washington Focus trip. I knew it would be a fantastic opportunity, but I didn't realize how much I would grow as both a 4-H member and a person. I learned about the poverty challenges in the DC area, focusing on senior citizens, veterans, and low-income families. Along with my fellow 4-Hers from Connecticut and Ohio, I volunteered at the Capital Area Food Bank, where we compiled over 500 bags of non-perishable food and assembled 200 food boxes containing candy, flyers, and coupons. This experience was inspiring and educational; it allowed me to make a tangible difference in the community. 

The trip also provided an opportunity to meet and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds. Our daily workshops included 4-Hers from Texas, Alabama, Maine, Ohio, Iowa, New Jersey, Minnesota, and many other states. Sessions covered digital literacy, civic engagement, and debate skills, among others. Town Hall was one of the most impactful sessions, we debated challenging issues like gun control, marijuana legalization, and mental health.  

It was eye-opening to see how civil and respectful conversations could lead to a better understanding of differing viewpoints and sometimes even a shift in opinions. This opportunity taught me the importance of connecting, contrasting, and communicating respectfully, especially when discussing difficult topics. 

This trip taught me that by taking the time to listen and learn, you can make a difference in the world. Knowledge is the most powerful tool one can possess. I am incredibly grateful for the experiences and insights I gained, as well as for the generous donations from my local 4-H network, friends, and family that helped fund this trip.