By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Drew Thomas is as well-rounded as the corners of a four-leaf clover.
His 11-plus years as a 4-H member and his involvement in FFA, drama and choirs at Bowling Green High School earned him the honor of being inducted into the Ohio 4-H Teen Hall of Fame – the first 4-H member from Wood County in the state hall of fame.
He grew up in the 4-H world, thanks to a family tradition that included his grandfather, Don Converse, his mother, Holliday (Converse) Thomas, aunts, uncles and a younger brother.
His first foray into 4-H was as a Clover Bud, the non-competitive, educational introduction to 4-H for five- to eight-year-olds. At eight years old, he became a full-fledged member and never slowed down throughout his entire 4-H eligibility.
Drew started by participating in miscellaneous and livestock 4-H project judging and countless leadership and educational opportunities.
At the local level he served as a 4-H camp counselor, junior leadership board member and Wood County Junior Fair King. He also was involved in CarTeens and the Wood County 4-H Committee.
He didn’t rest there. He got involved at the state level in the Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council, Ohio State Junior Fair Board (which involves more than 4-H) and two terms on the Ohio 4-H Foundation Board. He also participated in Citizenship Washington Focus, a national 4-H leadership experience.
He also served as a delegate to the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta in 2022, National 4-H Conference (virtual) in 2021 and Leadership Washington Focus in Washington, D.C. in 2019.
Induction into the hall of fame on Saturday was the cherry-on-top reward for his laser focus on the 4-H motto “to make the best better.”
The Ohio 4-H Teen Hall of Fame honor is the top of the top in 4-H. “It shows that I am super involved in 4-H and have been throughout my whole 4-H career,” he said. He believes his other involvements in choir, drama, and FFA, where he earned proficiency awards and the State FFA Degree, contributed to being selected as one of only four inductees this year, demonstrating his well-rounded experiences.
“I didn’t know about the Hall of Fame award until I joined Teen Leadership Council,” Drew said. “At that point, I started attending Ohio 4-H conferences, lunches and activities and saw people that I knew on the leadership council with me getting into the hall of fame. I knew I wanted to be like them, and so I started doing everything I could with an eye on the hall of fame.”
4-H has been the perfect organization for Drew, who is now a music education major at Capital University in Columbus. “I’ve always tried my hardest to do the best that I possibly can,” he said. His goal has always been to better himself, gain better skills and be ready for whatever the future hold, which he now is focused on becoming a vocal music teacher.
Drew’s drive started when he was young. He recognized how much his mother gained from being in 4-H and he was determined to follow in her 4-H footsteps. “I saw what she did in 4-H and I wanted to have some of those same goals that she did,” he said.
“It is an honor to work with our 4-H teens and when they excel in the program on a state and national level, it is humbling,” said Jennifer Morlock, Wood County 4-H program assistant. “Drew has explored every opportunity offered to him in 4-H and has become a role model for his peers and younger 4-H members. Because of his leadership, 4-H teens are getting more involved and that in itself is very exciting for our program.”
Many of the skills Drew learned through 4-H have paid off in his first year at Capital University. Because he had to be a stickler at time management in high school, juggling his time between homework, 4-H, choir/Madrigals, FFA, and cross country.
No longer are his parents, Andrew and Holliday, there to remind him, so he’s learned how to give everything its own time.
Aside from the skills and experiences he’s gained through 4H, Drew is most proud of the friendships and relationships he’s made the past 11 years.
“I feel like I can almost go anywhere and know someone through 4-H. And the best part, these are lifelong connections and friendships,” he said.
The most recent 4-H win is being accepted to be a program assistant for the Citizenship Washington Focus program this summer. He applied for, and after an extensive interview process, he was offered the position.
The training for the summer 4-H program assistant has already started and will culminate with a month in Washington, D.C., helping to guide this summer’s participants through the life-changing experience.
He has helped younger 4-H members in his and other clubs, whether it was helping with projects or apply for 4-H opportunities. Drew looks forward to being involved in the Citizenship Washington Focus as a speaker, peer leader and Washington, D.C. tour guide.
The 4-H program boasts that youths in 4-H are two times more likely to have a goal to be a leader, three times more likely to participate in community service and two times more likely to live a life with intentionality and purpose.
“I know in college I am already taking advantage of leadership opportunities,” Drew said. He joined a fraternity where he is on the officer team, committee chair and representative on the Interfraternity Council.
“I think that proves how much 4-H helps build those skills. They have helped me feel confident enough to take that leadership role,” he said.
As far as participating in community service, Drew has long been involved in helping people in his community. In his fraternity, he has assumed the role of community service chairperson. “I plan all the community service events and find different ways to get the guys involved in the community,” he said.
Drew has discovered that music education fulfills part of his “life of purpose,” he said. “I’m taking on this new challenge, changing my study and practicing habits to be successful in school and as a teacher one day. I experience that intentionality every single day when I’m at college.”
His official 4-H years are almost complete, but he admitted it doesn’t end here. “Now it’s my turn to give back to my county and stay involved in the 4-H program as a volunteer.”
