UMATILLA COUNTY -- Courtney Waliser could hardly wait for her job with Oregon State University to begin.

After 16 years of teaching in Milton-Freewater's public schools, much of that in dual-language classrooms, this past summer Waliser took a new position to match a long-held belief -- that 4-H should include every child who wants to join.

While the role is officially titled "associate professor of practice," that sounds like "cheerleader for inclusivity" to Waliser.

Sadly, she said, that's not always been the case for 4-H.

The national 4-H program was founded in about 1902, first as a youth development organization to introduce new technology and ideas to agricultural communities. It also was a way to connect public school education to rural life, founders said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture now administers the program. In the 1970s the four clover leaves of 4-H -- head, heart, hands, and health -- broadened to cover a full range of youth, including minorities, and a wide range of life experiences, according to Duke University scholar Gabriel Rosenberg in writing about the organization.

That's the theme that speaks loudest to Waliser's heart.

"Historically, 4-H has been limiting," she said, noting not every youth could realistically join in days past.

Now, with more than 6.5 million members, 4-H is the largest out-of-school youth program in the United States, its leaders say, and there are affiliated clubs for nearly every interest, from science, cooking, agriculture and technology to civic engagement, nutrition, fitness and leadership.

Every category is meant to underscore hands-on learning, and is focused on youths growing their interests in non-academic settings.

Families, particularly those not connected to agriculture, don't always know this, Waliser said, and she's determined to be part of spreading the word.

"We've changed, but the traditions are there," she said. "And our traditional programs are thriving, we have kids joining like crazy."

That's especially true in agricultural communities, such as Milton-Freewater, where Waliser was heavily involved in 4-H during childhood.

The years spent as a teacher, however, showed her not everyone has heard about 4-H or understands their children could belong "in the club," she said.

This doesn't surprise Cathy Hass.

Hass is the 4-H program leader for the Oregon State University Extension Service, the umbrella over all 4-H clubs and services across the state.

Parents can get the impression participation for their children is an expensive proposition, she noted. That can be true for the 4-H horse program, for example.

"We have seen a decline in that. It does cost so much money. But we need to tell our story that there is a place for you," she said.

To be sure, the century-old 4-H club model with a volunteer leader is strong in Oregon. In Umatilla County about 500 active members attend meetings and do projects under 100 leaders, a tradition Waliser is strongly cultivating, Haas pointed out, calling the nationwide volunteer base "a kind of superpower" for 4-H.

"But Courtney's passion is reaching that other audience ... Throughout the state, we have so many things people don't think of," Haas said.

These days it is less about slotting children into legacy programs and more about preparing them for the future, she added.

"We try to foster 'the spark,' meaning anything a kid is interested in. Then we can design activities around that to see they are surrounded by invested adults and personally growing," Haas said.

A recent addition to the 4-H roster is a campaign called "Beyond Ready," intended to prepare club members to be ready for higher education, work and adulthood with skills like civic engagement and leadership.

"We want them ready to thrive. And the key to that is serving all Oregon youth," Haas said.

Waliser is doing "great work" tapping into that audience through partnerships with school districts and YMCA chapters, Haas added, especially in cultivating teen leaders.

"I really appreciate Courtney's passion. To me, Umatilla County is a county that's doing things right," she said.

Waliser is uncomfortable with such high praise but can acknowledge there's been traction in the half year since she began this job.

"I love the kids, I love the direction my program is going," she said.

She sees the progress in the youths who come to her after-school science club, many of whom are not in traditional 4-H clubs. She sees it in teens who attend summer leadership camp -- one of which is headed to Costa Rica in 2025 as part of OSU's 4-H international exchange program.

That Umatilla County youth will be exposed to another culture and create lifelong connections, Waliser pointed out.

"This is what 4-H is doing," she said. "We are sending kids globally, teaching them leadership, teaching them how to thrive. That's the part I want to focus on.