The Shadow
In the summer of 1922, the Virginia Chapter of 4-H All Stars was organized on the campus of Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical Polytechnic Institute, now known as Virginia Tech. This July 22 – 24, today’s membership will celebrate the organizations 100th Anniversary on that same campus as Virginia Tech celebrates 150 years.
During the weekend, those attending will have the opportunity to participate in tours, workshops, and service-learning projects. It’s a great time to re-connect and spend time together as a celebration of 100 years of the Virginia 4-H All Stars. The banquet keynote speaker is the Honorable Cynthia D. Kinser who served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia for three years. She was first appointed to the Supreme Court in 1997 and then elected by the General assembly to serve to 12 year terms. She was tapped a Virginia 4-H All Star in 1967, attended the National 4-H Congress in 1969 as the state winner in Foods-Nutrition, was an IFYE to India in 1973, received the Virginia 4-H Foundation Virginia 4-H Alumni Award in 1998, and was a founding member of the Virginia 4-H Foundation.
The weekend starts off with a picnic dinner followed by a 4-H camp style campfire. Over the years the 4-H All Stars met following the 4-H Congress (4-H Short Course until the late 1960s) and started the weekend with a picnic at the Duck Pond. Elizabeth McClanahan, a 1976 4-H All Star, will be “kick’off” speaker. She is currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Tech Foundation as well as an adjunct faculty member of Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business. Prior to her current roles, she returned to her hometown of Grundy to serve as the President and Dean at Appalachian School of Law. She has decades of legal experience, working in both the private and public sectors. Most notably, Elizabeth served as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Virginia. Prior to her service on the Supreme Court, Elizabeth served on the Court of Appeals of Virginia and served as Chief Deputy Attorney General of Virginia. Over the years, Elizabeth has served on various boards and commissions. She is a proud resident of Southwest Virginia and is a strong supporter of 4-H. This opening event is sponsored by Farm Credit.
The 4-H All Stars is an honor/service organization. Membership in 4-H All Stars is the highest recognition that a Virginia 4-H’er can achieve. Virginia 4-H All Stars is service oriented, and volunteer operated. The All Stars goal is to contribute to positive youth development through service to the 4-H program of which they are a part. The 4-H program becomes the springboard from which an All Star finds other areas of service throughout his/her lifetime. The 4-H All Star organization strives for a cooperative effort with the 4-H program in all areas.
Over the last 100 years, over 10,000 Virginia 4-H members, 4-H leaders, and adult 4-H staff have been selected to become members of the 4-H All Stars. About 120 members for Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia will join the celebration in Blacksburg. Those in attendance range from several who became members in 1953, to those who became members this year, a 59 year spread. Regardless of age, they all will share common experiences through involvement in 4-H!
Four buildings on the Virginia Tech campus bear the name of a Virginia 4-H All Star who also received the Hall of Fame award. Dr. John R. Hutcheson, one of two brothers for which Hutcheson Hall is named, was one of 12 charter member of the 1922 4-H All Star Chapter. He later served as President of the University from 1945 – 1947. Other buildings include The Skelton Conference Center, Wallace Hall, and Dietrick Hall. Irene Leech, who is presenting the organization’s history during the weekend, is the granddaughter of another 1922 member Richard S. Ellis, III. She is one of the many All Star families that go back at least three generations.
Nancy Moga, Covington, has served as head of the Virginia Chapter of 4-H All Stars for the last two years. She became a member in 1970 as a 4-H member from Louisa County.
