The Wakulla 4-H youth development program is made possible through the support of dedicated adult volunteers and generous community partners. On Thursday, January 30, the community is invited to join Wakulla 4-H to celebrate and support the Wakulla 4-H program at the Clover Gala event. The evening will feature a cocktail hour with a cash bar, silent auction and ring toss to benefit youth programs, buffet dinner with a carving station, and a recognition program to honor volunteers and partners. End the celebratory evening with dancing to DJ-provided music. The Lodge has room reservations available for guests who may wish to enjoy all that Wakulla Springs and the surrounding area has to offer. For ideas on activities to extend your stay, check out the Visit Wakulla website.
The Clover Gala will begin at 5:30 PM and end at 10 PM. Formal attire is suggested but not required. Individual seats are $75 and tables for parties of eight are available for $650.
Honoring Volunteers
4-H volunteers undergo a Level 2 background screening and complete child protection training annually. Volunteers also participate in professional development activities to support their work with 4-H youth. 4-H volunteers may volunteer as few as four hours a month while others may contribute 100 or more hours of time. Wakulla 4-H families were asked to nominate volunteers for recognition. The volunteer nominees then completed brief questionnaires that were evaluated by members of the 4-H Advisory Council. Three nominees will be recognized during the event and one volunteer will be named 2024 Volunteer of the Year in honor of their work supporting positive youth development in Wakulla. The 2024 nominees for Volunteer of the Year are Jennifer Counce, Amanda Murphy-Gruebel, and Kiley Wilson.
Jennifer Counce leads the 4-H Homeschool Club. Her three children are also members of multiple 4-H clubs. Jennifer says she volunteers with 4-H to “to give the children of Wakulla the opportunity to have as many wonder experiences as possible.” She says she believes her greatest impact as a volunteer is “seeing the kids be so excited to come to the meetings! I love when they come in buzzing with energy to have fun and see their new friends.”
Amanda Murphy-Gruebel leads the 4-H Communications and Podcast Club, co-leads the Future Leaders of Wakulla club, advises 4-H youth on Community Pride service projects, coaches 4-H members to prepare for public speaking events, and serves as the parent representative on the 4-H Advisory Council. Amanda was a 4-H youth in Palm Beach County and now her son Caden serves as the Wakulla 4-H County Council President and is active in multiple 4-H clubs. Amanda says she volunteers with 4-H because “this is my way of giving back. Working with youth is very important because they are our future. Not all youth have the same opportunities or family structure, so it is crucial to give them a space to be creative and able to grow in different areas they might not have had the confidence to do.” She says her biggest impact as a 4-H volunteer “has been in Communications, even with my child. Figuring out how each youth learns or what they need to grow their confidence is sometimes a challenge, but watching them come out of their shells and become comfortable speaking in front of people is just amazing. Last year, some youth avoided speaking engagements and are now raising their hands to compete, and I am so proud of them.”
Kiley Wilson leads the 4-H Club on Wheels. Her children are also members of several 4-H clubs. Kiley says she volunteers with Wakulla 4-H to “spend time with my family as well as connect with other families that share similar interest as a community.” She says her biggest impact as a volunteer “showing kids that bravery with some motivation can help them develop confidence by trying something new and persevering through challenges.”
Recognizing Community Partners
There are many ways to support Wakulla 4-H. Community partners are groups or organizations who commit time, talent, and resources to helping support positive youth development in Wakulla County. Wakulla 4-H families were asked to nominate community partners that they felt should be recognized as a nominee for the 2024 Friend of 4-H award. Each nominee was asked to answer a few questions to help the Advisory Council make a decision on who the top honoree would be. The 2024 nominees for the Friend of 4-H award are Keep Wakulla County Beautiful, Panacea Waterfronts Community Garden, and the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth.
Wakulla 4-H’s partnership with Keep Wakulla County Beautiful (KWCB) first began during the 2018-2019 4-H program year when local youth decided they wanted to clean up the community after Hurricane Michael. Youth applied for and were awarded a Community Pride grant to support their cleaning efforts. With the help of KWCB members, youth cleaned local roadways and gathered hundreds of pounds of debris. Since that time, 4-H has participated in the annual International Coastal Cleanup.
In 2024, Keep Wakulla County Beautiful (KWCB) partnered with and supported 4-H in several impactful ways. A KWCB board member participated as a guest on an award-winning podcast hosted by 4-H youth, showcasing the collaboration between the two organizations and promoting environmental stewardship. KWCB contributed financially as a 4-H sponsor, further demonstrating its commitment to youth development and community enhancement. The KWCB Director actively engaged with 4-H activities, often attending events due to personal ties, as their grandchildren participate in the program. Additionally, members of 4-H have reciprocated this relationship by joining KWCB, strengthening the bond between the organizations. KWCB supported 4-H’s road adoption efforts on Songbird Avenue by promoting their work and encouraging community involvement. Furthermore, KWCB recognized the leadership and dedication of 4-H County Council President, Caden Gruebel, by awarding him a $2,000 scholarship for his exceptional efforts in beautification and litter abatement within Wakulla County. These initiatives reflect KWCB’s dedication to fostering partnerships that encourage environmental responsibility and youth empowerment.
The history of collaboration between KWCB and 4-H includes a shared goal of increasing youth involvement and engaging with the FLOW (Future Leaders of Wakulla). In 2023, a notable project involved a litter abatement initiative where 4-H designed impactful signs with a local artist. These were strategically placed in visible locations around the county, thanks to KWCB and the Wakulla County Road Department, to enhance litter awareness. The 2023 litter abatement service project, a collaboration between KWCB and 4-H, not only raised litter awareness with vibrant, locally inspired signs but also earned the 4-H youth an award from Keep Florida Beautiful, highlighting the success of their efforts.
The Wakulla County Coalition of Youth (WCCY) has partnered with Wakulla 4-H for many years. Most recently, WCCY has funded skateboarding equipment for the 4-H Club on Wheels and supported 4-H programs such as the Living On Your Own program for teens. In 2024, WCCY partnered with Wakulla 4-H to start the Future Leaders of Wakulla (FLOW) program. A member of WCCY serves on the 4-H Advisory Council and also serves as co-leader for the FLOW club. WCCY says that they take an active role with Wakulla 4-H because we “believe in our commitment to empowering youth, fostering leadership, and building strong communities—values that align closely with the mission and impact of 4-H. By supporting 4-H, we can work together to provide opportunities for young people to develop essential life skills, engage in hands-on learning, and cultivate a sense of responsibility to their local and global communities. The 4-H program’s emphasis on experiential education, leadership development, and community service complements our goals of nurturing the next generation of changemakers. Whether through shared projects, resource support, or mentorship initiatives, partnering with 4-H enables us to extend our reach and positively influence the lives of more young people, preparing them for a successful future.”
The Panacea Waterfronts Community Garden first partnered with Wakulla 4-H on a project for youth to decorate garden pavers with original art between 2021-2022 when the Panacea 4-H Explorers Club was active. The Community Garden has also previously hosted Wakulla 4-H youth for educational programs related to food production. In 2024, the partnership gained new life when the 4-H Homeschool Club met at the Community Garden to refresh the garden pavers with new original art. The Panacea Waterfronts organization has supported 4-H summer camp and annual club programming along with providing opportunities for 4-H youth to serve the community at the annual Christmas in Panacea event.
Ways to Become Involved
Wakulla 4-H accepts new adult volunteers throughout the year. Demand for 4-H programs is high and more volunteers are needed to accommodate all the youth who want to participate. The minimum time commitment is four hours a month between August and May, with a break in June and July. Not sure you have the skills needed to support positive youth development? Wakulla 4-H has resources and training available to support volunteers. To learn more about how to become a volunteer, visit the Wakulla Extension website or call the office at 850-926-3931.
Are you a member of an organization that would like to become more involved as a 4-H community partner? Please reach out to 4-H agent Rachel Pienta at r.pienta@ufl.edu or at 850-926-3931.
To learn more about Wakulla 4-H and help provide financial support for positive youth development programs, please consider attending the Clover Gala on January 30. Clover Gala proceeds help Wakulla 4-H to fund youth and chaperone travel to competitions and educational events, to purchase supplies and equipment for club programs, and to support volunteer training programs.
0
