Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Volunteers are the HEART of 4-H. As our program in Coryell County continues to expand and offer more opportunities to young people, it is with a Thankful Heart I would like to recognize our dedicated volunteers for their servant hearts as they invest into our future by pouring into our youth. Recently, Tracy Coursey, Hornet GOLD intermediate Club Manager was selected to receive the Texas 4-H Salute to Excellence award. The following nomination letter was sent on her behalf:
Coryell County 4-H has been extremely blessed by the dedicated service of 4-H volunteer Tracy Coursey. For the past six years, Tracy has served as a leader in the Food & Nutrition, Fashion & Interior Design, and Photography projects. When she became Club Manager and helped initiate the Gatesville Intermediate Hornet GOLD 4-H Club, Coryell County had very few participants in those project areas. Her dedicated effort increased participation exponentially when she volunteered to lead the food challenge teams. The Hornet GOLD club is now one of our largest clubs and her leadership has impacted hundreds of youths.
Tracy can always be counted on to be present. She truly sees the value of what we do and makes every effort to contribute to making the “best better.” She is constantly looking for ways to include and involve more youth. She recruits new members and leaders, she coaches teams, and she serves in numerous leadership capacities within Coryell County 4-H including: Coryell County 4-H Program Area Committee Secretary, Coryell County 4-H Adult Leader’s Association President, and, most recently, Secretary, Hornet GOLD 4-H Club Manager, County Photography Project Group Workshop Presenter, county contest judge, and Coryell County Youth Fair Home Economics Photography Division Superintendent.
When the idea was presented to start an afterschool 4-H club at Gatesville Intermediate School, Tracy was the first volunteer to step up and lead the club. This club currently has thirty-six members, who all actively participate in meetings twice a month. During the fall semester, Tracy meets with the food and nutrition project youth weekly practicing for the 4 H Food Challenge contest. She buys the materials, plans the lessons, ensures the team supply boxes are ready, and coordinates practices. Each year, the program has produced competitive teams who advance from our county contest and place at the District Food contests. She emphasizes nutrition in the lessons she teaches, helping kids to be healthier.
During the spring semester, Tracy leads and promotes other 4-H projects like fashion & interior design, public speaking, and consumer education, robotics, and photography. She helps lead the club’s numerous community service projects, including collecting can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, old eyeglasses for the Lion’s Club to recycle, cards to nursing home residents, posters for Red Ribbon Week, playground cleanup, and donations for the animal shelter. She teaches the importance of citizenship and service to our 4-H members.
It is important to Tracy to teach youth how to properly conduct a business meeting. She empowers youth in officer positions to step up and lead the meetings. The Hornet GOLD Club is predominately made up of 4th-6th graders. She challenges the younger youth to become better speakers, leaders, and grow in 4-H. She prepares the meeting agendas and has each officer learn their part. She constantly encourages them.
Coordinating the Coryell County 4-H Photography project has been a huge contribution Tracy has made to our program. Offering several hands-on photography workshops each year, as well as serving as the Coryell County Youth Fair Photography Superintendent, Tracy teaches many principles in her lessons, including how to use both a digital camera and a cell phone camera. She relates to her participants at the level where they start and adds to their knowledge and skills, being very patient and kind in her teaching methods. Tracy uses the experience she has gained from her daughter Cayleigh, a Texas 4-H Master Photographer, to teach youth how to use their artistic abilities to express themselves through photography. Due to her leadership, entries have increased in both the project and contest entries.
“Ensuring that accurate notes are taken for the minutes as secretary, volunteering to be on numerous committees, signing checks for the adult leader checking account, setting up for events, registering participants, and being the last to leave so that the job is done right,” are all descriptions of Tracy’s character. She works very well with everyone. She plans ahead, puts in extra effort, and makes it happen. Every county has that “go-to” leader who can always be trusted to show up and make sure things run smoothly. Tracy is that person in Coryell County. She is always positive, uplifting, and energetic. She uses her time and talents to have a huge impact on youth. Her contributions to Texas 4-H are immeasurable.
Tracy Coursey was presented the Texas 4-H Salute to Excellence Award at Monday’s Hornet Gold 4-H Club meeting and will be recognized at the Texas 4-H Roundup in June. We would also like to recognize our Club Managers across Coryell County for their dedicated service. They include: Cattle Drive 4-H- Amanda Clarke & Stacia Smith, Coryell 4-H Gun Club- Hugh Nielsen & Travis VanBibber, Coryell 4-H Horse Club- Jenna Murphy & Crystal Hadley, Coryell City 4-H- Julie Gardner & Mary Minshew, Evant 4-H- Lauren Goins & Imelda Rodriguez, Five Hills 4-H- Bobbi Aulabaugh, Gatesville 4-H- Brandy Rhoades, Hard Bargain 4-H- Brandi Mitchell, Hay Valley 4-H- Jennifer Mann & Erika Archie, Hornet Gold Intermediate- Tracy Coursey, Emily Yarbrough, and Amanda Huckabee, Hornet Gold Junior High- Wendy Bye, Jonesboro 4-H- Tina Janke & Candace Lusk, Muddy Boots 4-H- Cassandra Ray, and Pecan Grove 4-H- Santanna Bay & Chelsi Duncan. We are fortunate to have other leaders who assist in coaching and teaching in various 4-H project work. We appreciate each and every one of our volunteers who serve and invest in the future by giving of their time and talents.
If you would like to become a 4-H Volunteer, please reach out to us at the Coryell County AgriLife Extension Office at 254-865-2414.
