Lois Carter is one of the most inspirational and motivational people I know. She has motivated me and inspired me to become the person I am today, and at one point I wanted to follow in her footsteps and be a 4-H Agent just like her. Even though my job choice has changed she still inspires me and loads of other people, especially kids. Lois has been the Bourbon County 4-H Agent for 31 years, during this time she has impacted and helped so many people, including myself. 

Being a 4-H Agent is a lot of hard work, organizing, and most importantly caring for the kids and people in 4-H and the community. When asked about her job and what it entails, she responded, “Wow…..here is the textbook answer: Kentucky 4-H believes in providing positive youth development experiences so that all youth can experience belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity.  My answer:  I work with youth, ages 5-19 and adults.  I spend about 24 hours (during a “normal” year) in 4th and 5th-grade classrooms providing 4-H Club/School Enrichment programs – such as – history of 4-H, agriculture education, public speaking, nutrition, and STEM projects.  We offer a variety of after school opportunities such as cooking, sewing, livestock, horse, shooting sports, art, natural resources, and crafts.  When I am not doing all that, there are conferences/ events such as Middle School Leadership Academy, District Teen Council, County 4-H Teen Council, adult 4-H Council, Middle School Summit, Teen Conference, District Middle School, and Teen retreat,4-H Camp, Bourbon County Fair…..that’s not all….but it’s a start!” Seems like a lot right? That’s because it is. Every time I would walk into Lois’s office she would be sitting at her desk, usually on the phone dealing with 4-H things. 

Outside of 4-H, Lois still has a lot going on. She has two kids, Logan and Morgan, both with a growing family. This year Logan and his wife Amelia had a baby boy named Nolan Groff and Morgan and her husband had a baby girl named Charleigh Ann. Lois also has a husband named Nick. 

Being the 4-H Agent in Bourbon County comes with great responsibility and I’m sure a lot of headaches. Lois’s calendar is always full (except this year because of Covid). Lois was always doing something to deal with 4-H. She stays busy all year round with various events and constant planning but when asked about her favorite thing to do as a 4-H Agent she replied “I have several….I love the county fair!  I enjoy seeing my 4-H’ers rewarded for their accomplishments.  I also love the community aspect of the fair.  Watching the park transform into the FAIRgrounds is one of my favorite things to do!  I also love our Middle School Summit and Teen Conference.  Both are leadership conferences where we see the best of the best.  It provides those youth with the opportunity to network with other youth from across the state and often opens their eyes to the possibilities  available to them.” 

As a 4-H Agent, she has touched many lives and helped so many kids find a path that they want to take on. She has watched kids grow up and even help them out with various things. I know that she has helped me with various applications and probably about a hundred things. She tries to build personal connections with each and every kid to make their 4-H experience the absolute best and she pushes kids to accomplish things. When she was asked about her favorite part about being a 4-H agent she said “Seeing young people accomplish goals and grow in leadership positions.” 

Being a 4-H Agent is a lot and is an impactful role in the community. It may not be known to every person in the county or the community, the people that know Lois know that she loves her job even though it can cause some stress. When she was asked why she wanted to be a 4-H Agent she said “I applied for the 4-H Agent position because I LOVE working with young people but I didn’t think I wanted to focus just on the classroom education. Being a 4-H Agent gave me the opportunity to work with youth AND be a non-traditional educator.” Within her job, she teaches kids and other people various skills and life lessons. I know during the car rides to meetings for Teen Leadership, she would give us advice on what was going on in our lives. Knowing Lois has helped me through life and through so many things and she has helped me with various leadership roles and with some things at school. Lois is an amazing woman whom I have known for a few years now. I am so grateful that I have gotten to be one of her “4-H’ers” and that I have gotten to know the amazing person she is.