Peebles resident David Baker earns Ohio Friend of 4-H honor

David Baker of Peebles was honored in Columbus as one of three 2026 Ohio Friend of 4-H recipients, putting an Adams County name on a statewide program that reached 196,141 young Ohioans and relied on more than 12,000 volunteers last year. In a county where 4-H connects classroom learning to the fairgrounds, livestock barns and leadership projects, the award points to the adults who keep those opportunities available.

Baker received the honor March 21 at the Ohio 4-H Conference at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The day drew participants to more than 125 sessions on career exploration, leadership, camping, animal sciences and cake decorating, underscoring how broad the 4-H experience has become for families across Ohio. The Friend of 4-H Award recognizes an individual, family, business or corporation that has provided meaningful charitable support at the county, state or national level.

Ohio 4-H Youth Development is part of Ohio State University Extension, the university’s public outreach arm that says it brings research and knowledge directly to Ohioans. Extension says 4-H serves youth in all 88 counties, and membership begins when a child is at least 8 years old and enrolled in third grade as of Jan. 1, continuing through the year the participant turns 19. Ohio 4-H also traces its origins to Ohio, where A.B. Graham led the first meeting of the Boys and Girls Agricultural Club in Clark County.

The 2026 award was sponsored by The Honorable Frederick D. and Dr. Kathryn C. Pepple. Baker was one of three Friend of 4-H honorees this year, alongside Patterson Fruit Farm of Geauga County and Andy White of Ashland County. The broader honors at the conference also included the Ohio 4-H Hall of Fame, which has existed since 1977; the 2026 inductees were Sherri Martin of Warren County, Amy Fleshman of Franklin County and the late Dan Messaros of Lorain County.

For Adams County, Baker’s recognition is more than a personal milestone. It places a Peebles resident inside a statewide network of donors and volunteers whose support helps 4-H stay rooted in rural communities, where youth development, agriculture and civic leadership often grow side by side.