Jodi Gauker was a 4-H member in Westmoreland County for ten years. Currently, she is the agriculture project director for the Chester County Economic Development Council.
No matter what they choose to do after leaving the program, 4-H alumni make a difference wherever they go. In our series of alumni highlights, Pennsylvania 4-H explores the work and achievements of former Pennsylvania 4-H'ers around the state and throughout the country. Today, we are featuring alumna Jodi Gauker, who was a 4-H member in Westmoreland County for ten years.
Gauker joined the Mountain View 4-H club in Westmoreland County when she was eight years old. She began her time in 4-H with cooking, nutrition, and entomology projects, but over the years she joined additional clubs and added cross-stitch, sewing, computer, babysitting, leadership, investing, archery, and shotgun projects. Additionally, she traveled to Texas and Minnesota as a member of her local Travel-All Club, attended Southwest Regional 4-H Camp as a camper and counselor, and participated in State Achievement Days, Capital Days, National Conference, and National Congress. She also served as a member of State Council and was president-elect of the 2003 team and president of the 2004 team.
After aging out of 4-H, Gauker became involved in collegiate 4-H at Penn State. She also became an NRA certified shot gun instructor and helped with the archery and shot gun projects in Westmoreland County while she was in college; she later became a beef club organizational leader and coached the livestock judging team in Berks County for several years.
After graduating from Penn State, Gauker attended graduate school at Texas A&M, where her graduate thesis focused on a study of volunteers within the Texas 4-H Program that assessed if they had skills, training, and resources needed to fulfill their volunteer roles and if they felt they were appreciated and recognized appropriately. "I had high hopes of becoming a 4-H educator," says Gauker, "but there was a recession when I graduated with my masters in 2008, and there were very few 4-H educator opportunities available, so, as I learned in 4-H, not everything works out, and you have to move to plan B!"
Currently, Gauker is the agriculture project director for the Chester County Economic Development Council. In her role, she writes and administers grant programs that help farmers and business owners start, grow, adapt, or transition their farm or food business as well as helping farmers prepare for farm loans. She also works to provide opportunities for students to learn about careers in agriculture. Aside from her work with the Chester County Economic Development Council, Gauker serves her community as a director of the Pennsylvania Beef Council, Berks Agricultural Resource Network, and Chester County Agricultural Development Council, and she is the chairman of the Berks County Planning Commission.
Gauker and her husband also own and operate Gauker Farms in Berks County. The family farms 270 acres, where they produce corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, and beef, which they retail at farmers markets, restaurants, farm stores, and through a monthly CSA program. "I use skills I learned in 4-H every day!" Gauker says of her work. "I share my story from the suburbs to the farm with my customers through social media and at markets. Those story-telling skills didn't come naturally--they were learned through 4-H!" In addition to these story-telling skills, Gauker notes that her time in 4-H helped her to develop writing and public speaking skills, which she uses in her many roles to promote agriculture.
Outside of these important career skills, Gauker notes that her time in 4-H was also the start of many lifelong friendships. "I learned the value of a great friendship in 4-H," she says, "I met great friends through each experience who I'm still friends with today--especially in camp, National Conference, and
National Congress. You may not see each other for a while, but when you find a good friend, you pick back up right where you left off and start making more great memories!" Gauker is also looking forward to making new memories as a 4-H parent when her daughter is old enough to participate in the program. "I can't wait to see the program through her eyes," adds Gauker.
When asked what advice she has for current 4-H'ers, Gauker says, "My advice to members is to absolutely get involved in any project or activity that interests you. Now is the time to learn! If you think you might enjoy traveling, do it with 4-H! If you want to learn a new skill, try a new project. Your 4-H leaders and mentors will be there to guide you and help make your 4-H experience the best it can be."
