Arkansas 4-H Alumni Association

Steve Jones

Outstanding Arkansas 4-H Alumnus, 2013

The 2013 Arkansas 4-H Alumni of the Year is Steve Jones, Associate Professor of Animal Science. Steve is a native of Winfield, Louisiana, where his family raised cattle, hogs, vegetables and horses. He began 4-H at age 9, with projects in Animal Science and Plant Science. He stated that first record book in Animal Science seemed to have set the course for the next 47 Years.

Steve showed Polled Hereford cattle and registered Hampshire swine, and exhibited market hogs at county, regional and state shows. Profits from selling registered Hampshire show pigs and breeding stock and from his herd of cattle allowed him to receive a college education, the first in his family to do so. He earned a B.S. degree in Animal Science from Northwest Louisiana University and a Masters in Applied Science from Louisiana Tech University. He gives credit to 4-H for experiences that exposed him to a bigger world than his small town and motivated him to set high goals, and he states 4-H prepared him to succeed.

Steve raised a 4-H family. His children - Allison, Michael and Dover – showed cattle, sheep, swine, horses and poultry. His late wife, JoAnn, was a 4-H Leader in Louisiana and Arkansas for almost 20 years. She was still active until her untimely death in 2004.

His Extension 4-H career began as an assistant county agent in 1981 in Mansfield, Louisiana, where he grew the 4-H program exponentially over the next five years. In 1989 Steve came to the Arkansas Extension Service as the first 4-H Livestock and Horse Specialist. His present responsibilities include educational programs for all youth livestock programs, shows, and related contests. Steve provides the leadership for many innovative programs, such as Youth Beef Quality Assurance Program, Youth Beef Quiz Bowl, and Arkansas 4-H Skillathons. He has also planned and conducted numerous 4-H livestock Judging and Showmanship Camps to provide educational opportunities in project work for beef, sheep, goat and dairy youth.

He has garnered over $590,000 in grants to support youth, equine and small ruminant educational programs. Steve has written numerous publications, educational materials, state, regional and national training curricula and press articles. He has given presentations to hundreds of groups, as well as radio and television. He has a long list of awards, including both State and National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Distinguished Service Awards, and awards for Special Performance, Communication Excellence and many others.

It is said of Steve Jones, “He is very passionate about what he is doing, whether at the county level, helping with the local club, or teaching his clinics on the state level. The 4-Hers and leaders know he will always be there for them to answer questions, or just offer encouragement.”

Steve himself says, 4-H has been my life, and I cannot imagine having chosen a different path.