Notes from Jennifer

For everyone

Colleagues,

I am delighted to share that Carol Skelly will be inducted into the 2026 National 4-H Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors in the 4-H. Carol will be recognized on Oct. 26, in Kansas City, Missouri, prior to the start of the NAE4-HYDP Conference. While a broader public announcement will be made closer to the induction, I wanted our staff to be among the first to celebrate this well-deserved recognition.

This honor reflects a remarkable career and continued service dedicated to expanding opportunities for young people through 4-H. Carol’s impact spans local, state, national, and international audiences. As an International Four-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) delegate to Nepal and later a leader of youth exchanges to the Netherlands, she helped young people develop global perspectives and lasting cross-cultural connections.

I had the privilege of working with Carol as she piloted WeConnect: A Global Youth Citizenship Curriculum, engaging more than 800 youth and empowering middle school students to teach younger peers about inclusion, fairness, and global citizenship. Carol is also known for her pioneering Youth Teaching Youth approach, which trained more than 4,000 teen teachers who, in turn, reached over 50,000 young people through peer-led education and leadership development.

Her commitment to innovation continues today through her leadership in photography, video, and the Minnesota 4-H Film Festival. Carol’s Hall of Fame induction is a fitting tribute to a lifetime of service and her unwavering belief in the potential of young people.

If you see Carol this summer, be sure to congratulate her.

Warmly,

Jennifer A. Skuza
Associate dean