Abigail Logan takes top honor at State 4-H Roundup

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Media Contact: Trisha Gedon | Sr. Communications Specialist | 405-744-3625 | trisha.gedon@okstate.edu

Kind, dedicated and hardworking are three words used to describe Abigail Logan. The Payne County 4-H’er inspires others, is devoted to service and is 100% committed to the Oklahoma 4-H Youth Development program.

All of these qualities and more were recognized when Logan was inducted into the Oklahoma 4-H Hall of Fame, the most prestigious state 4-H Award. She was recognized at the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma Honor Night Assembly during the 102nd State 4-H Roundup at Oklahoma State University. She received a $5,000 scholarship sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of Oklahoma.

Logan, a nine-year veteran of 4-H, was also awarded the $1,200 Advanced Family and Consumer Sciences Scholarship sponsored by the Oklahoma Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Oklahoma Association for Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals, and the $1,200 Larry D. Anderson Memorial Scholarship sponsored by the Larry D. Anderson Memorial Endowment. In addition, she was named a member of the Blue Award Group.

Active in the Heritage 4-H Club, Logan has always had a love for trying new things and pushing herself out of her comfort zone. She found many opportunities to do this throughout her 4-H career.

“4-H has allowed me to gain confidence in public speaking, shown me how I can be a better leader and citizen in my community, and so much more,” Logan said. “Every life skill and lesson I have learned will help me throughout my life. I believe being the type of person who isn’t afraid to try something new or challenging will allow me to continue to grow and develop throughout my life. Trying new things has created some of my favorite memories.”

One of Logan’s favorite 4-H projects is baking, and she puts those skills to good use. She has shared her talent by making and donating bread to a program that helps people fight addiction and to the Stillwater Fire Department. Logan also uses her culinary skills when participating in the 4-H Food Showdown and teaching bread-making workshops. She put her baking skills to the test and took home grand champion ribbons from the Payne County Fair with her Italian herb and cheese bread and her maple pumpkin bread. In 2022, she was named the state record book winner in the breads project.

She doesn’t spend all of her time in the kitchen. Some of Logan’s other 4-H activities include participating in the Payne County Horse Judging Club, teaching leatherworks workshops, judging the Cupcake Wars contest at the Oklahoma State Fair, assisting at 4-H camps and volunteering at Turning Point Ranch, a facility that uses horses as a form of therapy for people with special needs.

Other 4-H activities include serving as a delegate to National 4-H Conference, State 4-H Roundup, Citizenship Washington Focus and Capitol Camp, and serving as a State 4-H Ambassador. She has served in leadership roles at the local, county, district and state levels.

Logan spent the past year serving as president of the 4-H Leadership Council. Early during her time in office, she was given the opportunity to speak with members of the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation. She realized her 4-H goal as president remained the same – encouraging youth to become more involved in the organization, and that was the topic of her presentation.

“I feel like many youth are enrolled but they aren’t actively participating,” Logan said. “I presented some of my ideas to help with this challenge and the board members were enthusiastic. Finding a way to increase enrollment and activity was the beginning of my Shark Tank: Increasing 4-H Enrollment in Your Community workshop project.”

This workshop is an interactive experience in which participants compete to create a detailed plan for hosting an event or an opportunity to increase enrollment and activity. Logan said she can see the excitement in club members who attend her workshop and are eager to take their new-found knowledge back to their own county. She also presented this idea to New Mexico 4-H’ers at a leadership retreat.

This type of experience has allowed Logan to further develop and strengthen her leadership skills, which will help her throughout life.

Summer Leister, OSU Extension 4-H educator in Payne County, said Logan is the textbook definition of what an Oklahoma 4-H Hall of Fame inductee and president of the leadership council should be.

“Abby has an unmatched passion for 4-H and its members,” Leister said. “It has always been Abby’s goal to inspire, encourage and help others. She goes above and beyond no matter the situation and is able to turn her failures into successes. This is what has made her the leader she is today.”

Cathleen Taylor, state leadership and civic engagement specialist with the state 4-H office and 4-H leadership team advisor, said Logan is a true servant leader.

“She’s been a wonderful leader for the state council as president, but she also showcased her leadership in other roles such as when visiting with National 4-H Council CEO Jennifer Sirangelo,” Taylor said. “I truly believe Abby leaves a lasting impact on me and the Oklahoma 4-H program.”

Logan said her time in 4-H has changed her life and allowed her to gain confidence in many different areas.

“Though a large amount of hard work and personal motivation was required, if it were not for my family and friends who have walked alongside me every step of the way, I would not be where I am today in my 4-H career, and more importantly, where I am today as a person,” Logan said.

She is the daughter of Andy and Vickie Logan and will attend OSU this fall.