TEXAS NEIGHBORS | FALL 2019 2019 Questions with Texas 4-H President 20 Questions HOMETOWN: Nazareth, Texas 4-H CLUB: Nazareth 4-H Club Years in 4-H: 9 years (11 years including Clover Kids) Grady McAlister Connect with Grady: Grady_McShady Grady McAlister mcalister.grady 1. How did your passion for agriculture/4-H develop? My family has always been involved in agriculture. We are a six-generation farm family, so you could say it is in my blood. My grandparents ran a dairy, a feed store and were involved in crop production research on one side, and the other side was in-volved with animal production. As far as 4-H, my dad’s parents were 4-Hers and 4-H leaders, my dad and his brothers were involved, and my grandpa was the Roosevelt County Agent in New Mexico for several years. My dad and my uncle were both on New Mexico State Council, and my cousin Alyssa is current-ly serving on the New Mexico 4-H Council. 3. What achievements are you most proud of? Of course, being elected as state council president is at the top of my list, but in 2018, my recordbook in Plant and Soil Science won first place at the state level. The award for that is a place at the Texas Leadership Convention in Washington, D.C., over Thanksgiving. One of our stops was at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I was chosen, along with three other members of Texas 4-H, to present the wreath. That is one of the biggest honors I could ever imagine. 4. 2. What made you decide to get involved in 4-H? My older sister started 4-H when she was in third grade, so my mom would enter me in our county contests as a Clover Kid. I tagged along to food challenge and food show contests, as well as livestock judging meets. I was 100 percent ready when it came time for me to be a “real” 4-Her. Why did you decide to run for Texas 4-H Council? I ran for council because my dad and uncle were on council. The legacy they created, along with my grandpa, made me want to step up and continue that legacy. WWW.TEXASFARMBUREAU.ORG