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Dickson County native Katie Collins recently won the national 4-H Youth in Action Award. The award goes to four outstanding 4-Hers who have projects that bring a positive impact to their community. Collins is the first person from Tennessee to win the award.
Thomas Capps
Outstanding Tennessee collegiate 4-Her recognized nationally. Hello and welcome to Tennessee Home and Farm Radio. I’m Thomas Capps
Katie Collins
I was so ecstatic to win this award.
Thomas Capps
Katie Collins is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee Knoxville studying food and agricultural business. She has been heavily involved in 4-H in high school and now at the college level too. She’s one of four to received the National 4-H Youth in Action Award this year.
Katie Collins
The Youth in Action Award is a national 4-H program that recognizes for diverse young leaders who make a positive impact in their community.
Thomas Capps
Each applicant submits a project that benefits their community, Collins submitted her community project called See Yourself in Agriculture, which helps expose youth agriculture that otherwise would have no contact with the industry.
Katie Collins
How I kind of got started in the project was I read a book to some third graders during ag literacy week, and about half of the kids didn’t even know where their food came from. I grew up on a century dairy farm, 20 minutes down the road from these kids. And I was just like, mind boggled at the fact that they thought their food came from a grocery store in the third grade
Thomas Capps
As one of the four winners Collins will now travel around to be a spokesperson for the National 4-H Council.
Katie Collins
For the whole year, we will travel to different donor events, alumni, different 4-H events, do telephone interviews like this talk to our state leaders, different state leaders, about 4-H and about how we made a positive impact and sharing our 4-H story
Thomas Capps
Also as the winner, Collins receives a $5,000 scholarship, but she says it’s just an honor to be recognized for her hard work and an honor to represent Tennessee.
Katie Collins
I’m the first Tennesseean to ever win the award, which is super exciting. And so I hope this gained some traction because I know people in Tennessee are doing great things. I’m hoping more people in Tennessee worldwide and they’ll win the award in the future.
Thomas Capps
For Tennessee home and Farm Radio. I’m Thomas Capps. Thanks for listening and have a great day.
