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Barefoot In The Sand: Remembering the Waning Days of the Hopewell Community (1998) Bruce C. Gragg 78/123

UNCLE VIVIAN AND THE 4-H

Each year Uncle Vivian and Aunt Maude would stop by either going to
south Fla. for the winter or on their way back to Flat Creek, Ga.
near Clarksville. When they were heading south they would bring a
supply of fresh and dried apples. If they didn’t visit until spring
when heading back to Ga. they would bring various citrus fruit from
south Fla. So, we got a treat either way. His favorite hobby was
fishing, he always carried his gear with him on trips. When he would
catch fish, only he could clean and cook it right. He was Burnette’s
older brother, a retired state agriculture agent. It so happens he
was also a big teaser, and he' could always get me on something when
he visited. He had spent many years as a 4-H advisor. Even after his
retirement, he still worked with the youth on Flat Creek. Working
with the young people was a special project for him, he was dedicated
to helping them.

That is where I first heard of the 4-H program, and talking with him
encouraged me to join when it came to our school. I really enjoyed my
years in 4-H. With my projects I won many awards and prizes. Such
awards as five short courses at U of F, several camps, ribbons and
lots of cash. My projects included, but not limited, to bees and the
Pig Chain and some row crops. Not only did I learn something, but I
had a heap of fun going to meetings and training sessions in various
areas of north Fla. Then there were the regular Summer Camps at
Cherry Lake near Madison. The first Short Course at UF I attended not
knowing how much walking was involved I went with new shoes. I can
still hear Neal Duke, then Assistant County Agent-Columbia County,
kidding me about walking around in my socks carrying my shoes. With
him I’ll never live it down. Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
At that time Jim Watson, was the County Agent and Neal Duke was his
assistant. Neal was eventually promoted to County Agent. I have great
respect and appreciation for what their leadership meant to me and a
lot of other boys in rural Columbia County. * They knew mostly
teenage boys and understood how to guide them in the right direction,
but have a lot of fun doing it. Of course there were others Rance
Andrews, Luther Harrell and their secretaries (especially Bertie May)
gave their attention and leadership to a bunch of growing boys at an
important time in their life. I think most of these men had rather
spend some time with a group of 4-H boys than deal with a lot of the
parents. We would not only have fun at the camps or meetings they
took us to, but they made it a fun trip just going and coming. They
all enjoyed their work so much and it meant a lot to me. This type of
Youth Leader is and should be special to all youth as they grow up.
They were always there when we needed them for advise, and they never
made fun of our problem but tried to help solve it in a way we would
learn from our experience. None of them would

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