Madelyn Zimmerman,
2021 4-H Youth in Action Pillar Award Agriculture winner

News Release

MILFORD — In celebration of National 4-H Week, National 4-H Council announced that Madelyn Zimmerman, 19, Milford, is the winner of the 2021 4-H Youth in Action Pillar Award for Agriculture. Zimmerman will be recognized nationally for her drive to provide agricultural opportunities to at-risk students and youth with disabilities in her community.

The 4-H Youth in Action Awards, sponsored in part by Bayer, began in 2010 to recognize 4-Hers who have used the knowledge they gained in 4-H to create a lasting impact in their communities.

Zimmerman is the daughter of John and Peg Zimmerman and has been raised on a farm her entire life, but her love for agriculture wasn’t fully ignited until third grade when she joined 4-H. “My 4-H career began because I thought cows were cute and I begged my parents into letting me get some,” she said. “My dad and I didn’t like how quiet the farm was after the fair when the animals were gone, so we bought a few more the next year and, here we are 12 years later, with a family livestock business.”

Though Zimmerman has a business consisting of nearly 60 purebred beef cattle, it hasn’t always been easy. She’s always had a love for cattle but it wasn’t until 2013 that her passion for the agriculture industry, specifically communications, began.

Recognizing a need in her area, Zimmerman identified at-risk youth in her school district and invited them to show animals at her farm. Primarily focused on youth who felt alienated at school, she provided a safe space for youth to belong while teaching them to show animals and find their passion.

Additionally, Zimmerman got involved with a start-up program with Purdue University Extension in Kosciusko County, called Poss-ABILITIES, a program designed to provide mentorship and agricultural experiences to youth with disabilities.

“It all started at our county fair when a little girl with Down syndrome came up to me and my cow and said, ‘I wish I could do that’,” Zimmerman recalls. “She didn’t think she could show an animal because of her differences.” After speaking with the girl’s parents, Zimmerman knew she had an opportunity to make a difference. Through Poss-ABILITIES, she expanded her reach and opened up her farm to more youth.

The program strives to make interactive livestock experiences possible for youth of all backgrounds and abilities by pairing an experienced 4-H member with a 4-H member with a disability. Mentors spend time with the mentee’s family to learn how to best support them, then they work together to learn to show an animal at the fair.

“There are so many things youth with special needs can do,” Zimmerman said. “They may need some adjustments or extra help, but they have amazing talents and love learning something new.” In the past 10 years, Zimmerman has watched dozens of youth grow in confidence and communication skills through her work in 4-H: “We all need to find our place in this world and 4-H offers countless opportunities to make that happen.”

Zimmerman will receive a $5,000 scholarship for higher education and will serve as an advocate and spokesperson for 4-H agriculture programming. She is joined by three other 2021 Youth in Action Pillar winners: Elizabeth Weidner of Illinois (civic engagement), Mayyadah Zagelow of Washington (healthy living) and Aidan Spencer of Oklahoma (STEM).

“Madelyn is a shining example of bringing together people of diverse backgrounds through agriculture to make a positive impact on the lives of young people and their communities,” said Lisa Safarian, president of Crop Science North America and National 4-H Council board trustee. “At Bayer, we are proud to support many young people just like Madelyn as they learn and develop leadership skills that can make a positive difference in our world in the years ahead.”

Zimmerman is a student at Kansas State University where she is majoring in agricultural communications with minors in animal science, mass communications and journalism. She continues to advocate for the industry as an ambassador for the College of Agriculture, the Collegiate Cattlemen’s social media coordinator and a member of the Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority, where she represents the club as a member of K-State Agriculture Council.

To learn more about 4-H Youth in Action and to view the other pillar winners from around the country, please visit www.4-h.org/youthinaction.