Cathann Kress (MA ’86/PhD ’90) provides leadership for youth programs that reach more than 7 million youths annually, with the assistance of more than 640,000 adult volunteers and a budget of some $80 million each year.

She’s director of Youth Development in the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The youth programs, implemented through the Land Grant University system and Cooperative Extension, include 4-H, of which she is the national director.

Her impact in that role can’t be overstated.
Don Floyd interacts with Kress daily as president of the National 4-H Council, the 4-H organization’s private partner. He describes her as “brilliant, visionary,” and focused on how to help young people achieve their best.

“When they mark the period of Cathann’s leadership of 4-H, they will write that it was the most significant period of change, growth, and effective leadership in the history of 4-H,” Floyd said. “She has brought clarity to the work we do in 4-H. She has dealt with a long list of neglected challenges in our internal operations that have hindered our performance. She has been a recognized champion for our movement, bringing us visibility in high places. She has brought genuine partnerships between youth leaders and adults to reality.”

David Hardesty, president of West Virginia University and former chair of the National 4-H Council, agrees that Kress has made a significant mark through her personable, scholarly approach to her work and generosity with her time.

“Her effect is broad in the sense that I’m not sure even she knows the full impact she inspires,” Hardesty said. “She has influenced my decision making and made me even more dedicated to youth development efforts in the United States.”

Floyd also sees Kress as having an immense bearing on communities throughout the country.

“She has emphasized generosity as one of the four essential elements that should be part of our programming,” he said. “This leads to thousands of 4-H clubs and hundreds of thousands of 4-H-ers doing individual projects in their communities.”

Kress has held her post in the USDA since 2002, but has been involved with Cooperative Extension, 4-H, and youth development for decades. She said she’s proud of the 4-H organization’s long history of creating opportunities for youth.

“For over a hundred years, 4-H has been dedicated to connecting youth to the Land Grant University—educational opportunities that broaden the skills and aspirations of our youth and youth development opportunities that enhance the maturity, the potential, and ultimately the quality of life for our youth,” she said.

And despite her colleague’s accolades and insistence that she’s forever improving and changing the program, she said her proudest moments come from hearing from adults who tell her what 4-H meant to them.

“I’ve heard many stories from adults who were the first person in their family to go to college and their experience with the university through 4-H convinced them it was possible. I’ve seen adults thriving in careers which began as simple projects in 4-H—ranging from ornithology to photography,” she said.

“I’m absolutely proud that in all of the stories, the values of 4-H to ‘learn by doing’ and ‘lead by example’ are clear. I believe that educated, knowledgeable people are the most productive, engaged, and contributing citizens and leaders. 4-H imbues its members with not only a sense of belonging and the educational opportunity, but activates a sense of citizenship and encourages members to contribute to the life of their community.”