Henry wins spot in 4-H Hall of Fame

Scores of 4-H members strive to earn a place in the Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame, but the annual award goes to just one person who has achieved at the very highest level.

Connor Henry, a third-generation 4-H member from Arkansas County, was inducted into the Hall of Fame on June 4 during the Arkansas 4-H Teen Leaders Conference. The event and ceremony were at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center, where the names of Arkansas Hall of Fame recipients are displayed.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized for my service and achievements in 4-H,” Henry said. He said he plans to attend the University of Arkansas this fall to study engineering.

Henry serves as the Arkansas 4-H state president. During his 13 years in 4-H, Henry was a Teen Star, 4-H Ambassador and Governor’s Award finalist. He has served as a 4-H camp counselor and participated in several national 4-H events including National Congress and Citizenship Washington Focus.

He is a member of the 4-H Tech Changemakers, a program through which 4-H members teach digital skills to their peers and adults. Henry has taught cybersecurity, password safety and resume-building to various groups of students and adults. He’s also member of the statewide 4-H Video Crew that assists with live-streaming 4-H events.

“Connor has successfully blended his love of technology and outreach,” said Lori Canada, a 2004 Hall of Fame recipient who introduced the finalists along with 1994 inductee Tracy Leonard.

“Connor’s story is one of consistent growth, unwavering service and deep belief in the power of 4-H to change lives,” Canada said. “His induction into the Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame is a testament to a young man who leads by example and inspires others to do the same.”

Henry is the son of Heather and Chris Henry, a professor and water management engineer for the Division of Agriculture.

Jack Berryhill II of Hot Spring County was the other finalist for the Hall of Fame award. He previously served as an Arkansas 4-H state president and received the 4-H Governor’s Award in 2023. During his 11 years in 4-H, Berryhill was a camp counselor, part of the 4-H Video Crew and taught younger 4-H members about poultry showmanship. On the national level, he competed in National Livestock Skills and was selected for the National 4-H Congress leadership team.

Berryhill now attends the University of Arkansas where he is a collegiate 4-H member.

TEEN STAR AWARDS

Arkansas 4-H recognizes outstanding members who have completed at least one year of 4-H work and demonstrated excellence in their project work, leadership and community involvement with the Teen Star Award.

John D. Anderson, head of the Cooperative Extension Service, and Debbie Nistler, head of Arkansas 4-H, presented the awards to 43 teens from 21 counties. The teens were selected from hundreds of applicants statewide. The recognition paves the way for them to move into higher positions of leadership as 4-H Ambassadors, who can then run for state officer positions.

The 2025 Teen Stars include:

Benton County — Lilyan Lubess, McKenzee Blevins, Lydia Brown, Rebekah Brown, Jesse Curran, Kinley Elkinton, Aaron Hinojosa, Esther Millsap, Lillian Moore and Graham Swarengin;

Clark County — Danilynn Jackson;

Columbia County — Nora Smith;

Conway County — Ralen Criswell;

Craighead County — Magdalene Hutton;

Cross County — Henry Witcher and Mary Claire Witcher;

Faulkner County — Elliot Martin;

Franklin County — Katie DeWitt;

Hot Spring County — Eli Ray and Blakelyn Riggan;

Howard County — Asher Howard and Lillian Trombley;

Independence County — Zachary Heinecke and Michael Otwell;

Lonoke County — Grace Tustison and Abi Tustison;

Madison County — Bradley Barron, Ryker Shofner, Cache Stokes and Phalynn Stokes;

Montgomery County — Geoffrey Samons;

Pike County — Carsyn Ballard and Cayden Ballard;

Polk County — Ruby Hopper and Bella Horton;

Pulaski County — Josef Isaiah Breshears;

Saline County — Morgan Holden;

Sebastian County — Elly Sanders;

Sevier County — Emily Stamps;

Washington County — Ellie Bowen, Finley Dick, Anvari Wood and Jacob Wynne.

Arkansas 4-H is the youth development program conducted by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. It offers programs for youths ages 5-19 in every county in Arkansas.

To learn about Arkansas 4-H, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit Arkansas 4-H online at http://uaex.uada.edu/4h-youth/.

Tracy Courage is with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.