Jarrett Chung-Smith

I’ve been involved with 4-H, in some capacity, for as long as I can remember – some might say I was born into the program. Long before I was old enough to be a member, you’d find me in the barns, awaiting my opportunity to jump in the showring. My 4-H journey began as a Cloverbud, followed by 10 years as a member of the Saanich Peninsula 4-H Beef and Swine Club, and concluded with two years as a 4-H BC Ambassador, representing Vancouver Island. 4-H has been a cornerstone of my life, contributing to personal achievements, extending well beyond the championship banners and buckles. Not only did 4-H create numerous lifetime connections, and opportunities for me, both personally and professionally, the program also equipped me with important skills that I have taken into all aspects of my life. Even when I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do when I grew up, 4-H provided a foundation for my future, leading me to pursue an education in agriculture and food.   

 My 4-H journey truly came full-circle when I began my career as a Youth Development Specialist with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, a position I held for nearly eight years. This role allowed me to work in numerous areas of 4-H, including creating new projects, coordinating provincial programs, and working alongside hundreds of hard-working members and dedicated volunteers across the province. 4-H truly gave me inspiration to come to work each day, knowing that I had the opportunity to be a small part of a child’s 4-H experience, just as the program had impacted mine, all those years earlier.

 While my involvement in 4-H now is as an alumnus and volunteer, I am proud of what I have accomplished in and out of 4-H, and what the program continues to provide for our future leaders in agriculture, and beyond.