On 4-H Day at the Capitol last month, 11-year-old 4-Her Reagan Casler met with Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, six state senators, 10 representatives, and the Hillsborough County district attorney. And she showed off her Gator boots to Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson.
Reagan stepped up to advocate for 4-H and Camp Cherry Lake, emphasizing the positive impact these programs have on youth leadership and career readiness. She highlighted the dairy industry and all of Florida agriculture, reminding policy makers of the importance of supporting farmers and producers.
I met Reagan and her mother on the Capitol plaza on 4-H Day in 2025. Reagan punctuated her story about the cow she got through the Florida 4-H Dairy Heifer Chain by handing out lapel pins with a photo of herself and Dolly. She came back this year: Same spirit, new pin.
Green jackets converge on Capitol
Reagan was among hundreds of youth who converged on the Capitol this year to support the program that has supported them – some for more than a decade. It was a lesson in leadership. They walked into elected officials’ offices, and on behalf of tens of thousands of 4-Hers and summer campers, told their stories about how 4-H has helped them.
I believe 4-H is the most impactful thing the University of Florida does for the state’s youth.
Last year the legion of green jackets helped UF/IFAS secure the first $5.6 million in state funding to renovate and rebuild 4-H Camp Cherry Lake in Madison County. They were back this year to seek the remaining funding needed to turn a crumbling camp into a place worthy of our future leaders, with air-conditioned cabins and the capacity to serve 6,000 youths each summer – 30 times the present capacity. The upgrades and expansion will make possible new hands-on learning opportunities and give more youth access to the Florida 4-H Work Ready Program.
Connecting youth to agriculture
Without the Southern Belles and Beaus 4-H Club in Lutz, it’s unlikely Reagan would have much of a connection to agriculture. Her mom grew up in a neighborhood without space for (or even permission to have) cows, and had no experience with 4-H or dairy chains or green jackets or county fairs. Jennifer Casler decided to raise Reagan where she could have a cow, but it’s still a place where people and cars far outnumber heifers.
Caring for Dolly is teaching Reagan responsibility. And using her lapel pins, Gator boots and most importantly her voice, she’s learning to serve and to lead through story telling. We are lucky at UF/IFAS that she’s chosen to champion our commitment to youth development.
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