4-H Stories....
Ray Wilson
Ray Wilson, executive secretary of the Tennessee Feed and Grain Association and a past president of the Tennessee 4-H Foundation, shares the following:
Because of my experiences in 4-H Club, I developed a burning desire to attend the University of Tennessee and major in Agriculture. I grew up as the son of a tenant farmer and my family was very supportive of me being involved in 4-H. I had one of the best 4-H agents one could ever have -- Mr. Felix Knight. It was due to his encouragement and personal attention that my career in 4-H was such a pleasurable, exciting and educational experience.
I also had a bachelor uncle that lived with us when I first started in 4-H Club work. He provided me with my first beef steer to finish and show in 4-H shows. I was only 7 years old at the time and I went to Nashville with my steer to show and sell in that event at the stock yard. I was short in stature and at the time steers were very short legged. The sale ring was bedded with very deep straw in order to help the animals look closer to the ground which was the preferred statue of the beef steers of that day. I led my steer into the sale ring and was on the opposite side of my steer from the sale announcer. He could not see me and asked if anyone was leading this animal. I looked around the front of my steer and then the announcer saw me, which was followed by a big laugh in the crowd. My steer sold very well and brought more per pound that he really should have, which I think was because of how I was received due to me being so short.
I had the opportunity to attend 4-H Congress two years and 4-H Roundup two years while I was in high school. I attended 4-H Camp in Columbia four summers -- my last two summers as a junior leader. I earned my Vol State Award and also became a 4-H All Star. One of my projects during the later years of my 4-H program was vegetable production for which I won a $300.00 Scholarship from Sears & Roebuck Co. That $300.00 and an equal amount that I had saved started me to UT in Knoxville in the fall of 1956. By working one hour each day in “Mabels” and one hour each day in the Student Center Cafeteria, I was able to earn two meals per day during the week, which saved me a lot of money. I worked summers grooming and training Standard bred Trotters & Pacers, which helped me get through college. I completed my BS in Animal Science in December of 1961 and took a three year assistantship in Animal Science which allowed me to earn a Master of Science in Animal Nutrition by December 1964.
I worked 36 years for the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative System in 7 different positions during my career. I retired at the end of September in 2000. I married my high school sweetheart which I had met during 4-H Camp in Columbia one summer. We got married in September of 1961 and our first of two daughters, Rae Ann, was born while I was in graduate school. Bethany, our second daughter, was born during my first year of employment with TFC. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to serve 3 terms on the Tennessee 4-H Foundation Board of Directors. I also served the Foundation twice as president. I am currently Executive Secretary of the Tennessee Feed & Grain Association, which is a part-time job that I work out of my home. I still am active with the LaVergne Rotary Club, a member and Sunday School Teacher at Smyrna First Methodist Church.
As I look back over my life's experiences and the way I have been blessed, I know most of whatever success I have enjoyed would not have been possible without 4-H Club being my life's roadmap.