Agricultural News
Pittsburg County 4-H'er Elisabeth Willis Earns National Recognition
Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:50:59 CDT
Thanks to hard work, dedication and a strong conviction in doing what she believes in, a Pittsburg County 4-H'er is getting the opportunity to check off something from her bucket list.
Elisabeth Willis, a 4-H'er from Canadian, will be recognized as a National 4-H Youth in Action Award recipient at a special 4-H Legacy Award Gala in New York City slated April 18. This prestigious award is presented to outstanding 4-H'ers and corporations for their work on behalf of the 4-H youth development movement.
"This trip is a dream come true and I was truly speechless when I was notified I'd won," Willis said.
She believes the organizational skills she developed in 4-H played a big part in her being able to submit an application for the award.
"The application was very detailed, but thanks to my 4-H background, I had kept good records of my 4-H activities," she said. "I was able to pull the information together to submit for the award. I don't think I could've done it had I not kept track of everything for my 4-H record books."
The road to winning this award actually began several years ago. Willis has always had a place in her heart for youth who have special needs, so she looked for a way she could help those children in her own community.
After volunteering with the Therapeutic Equestrian Association of McAlester (T.E.A.M.), Willis said she knew she wanted to help the program so it could serve more youth in the community. In 2011, she organized the first 4-H Music Festival and all of the proceeds would be used to support the T.E.A.M in Pittsburg County. The festival featured current and former 4-H'ers from across the Southeast District.
A second festival took place in 2012 and to date, she has raised nearly $10,000 for the T.E.A.M. The money is used for feed, tuition for students, vet bills and some is set aside in the building fund for a new riding facility.
Mandy Carter, executive director and instructor for the T.E.A.M., said the riding center's mission is to provide a professional environment to serve persons of all ages with special challenges so they will achieve increased self-confidence, improve their life skills and benefit physically, mentally and spiritually through teamwork with the horses, volunteers and staff.
"The T.E.A.M. began about five years ago with six students," Carter said. "Since that time we've grown to seeing 50 students per week. Everyone at the T.E.A.M. feels fortunate that Elisabeth has chosen us as the focus of her 4-H work. We're all so proud of her and what she has accomplished."
Ten-year-old Wyatt Robbins is a student at the T.E.A.M., and his mother, Amanda Schulz, said he has gained so much confidence in the 2 ½ years he has been riding.
"This is a wonderful program and it has given him so much freedom he didn't have before," Schulz said. "He had surgery on his hips and to lengthen his tendons when he was 8 ½ years old. He didn't walk until that time. This is definitely a worthwhile program and it has done so much for Wyatt. The therapeutic riding helps strengthen the muscles throughout his body. And he also loves it when he gets to help care for the horses."
Mike Carter, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension 4-H educator in Pittsburg County, said Willis has set the bar high, not only in the county, but for Oklahoma, too.
"Elisabeth sees the big picture in 4-H. For her it's not about the jacket or the awards," Mike Carter said. "It's all about making a difference in her hometown. This award is great for Pittsburg County, but it also brings attention to 4-H and Oklahoma on the national stage."
He said it was a learning process for everyone involved when it came to organizing the music festival since nothing like that had been done in Pittsburg County.
"It really wasn't even about the festival, but more about the learning process and how those organizational skills can be used in all areas of her life," he said. "My job is to support her, but then I have to get out of the way and let her learn. Another benefit is now other 4-H'ers have seen it can be done and winning on a national level is a realistic avenue."
Willis' mother, Rachel, said Elisabeth has always had an assertive personality.
"It's great to see it channeled in the right direction. She knows what she wants and goes after it," Rachel Willis said.
Willis and her parents, Rachel and Gary, will attend the 4-H Legacy Award Gala where she will be presented with a $1,000 scholarship and give an acceptance speech. They also will have some time to do some sightseeing while in New York City and look forward to visiting Times Square and the Statue of Liberty.
Willis is a member of the Canadian Sr. 4-H Club where her main project areas are performing arts and public speaking. She has served as a district and county officer, as well as president of her local club. She also has served as a State 4-H Ambassador since 2009 and is very active in her church. Currently a junior at Canadian High School, she plays basketball and is on the superintendent's honor roll.
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