Veteran Prioritizes Greatest Need Giving
As a child, Cathy (Coyle) Hampton was fascinated with insects, particularly praying mantises. As a new 4‑H member, she wanted to make them the focus of an entomology project, but there was a problem: Entomology wasn’t offered in the girls’ clubs.
“At that time, the clubs were separated. I was told that in order to take entomology, I had to take a girl’s project as well,” Cathy said.
And so, she did. In fact, for all 10 years of 4‑H, Cathy was a member of both the boys’ and the girls’ clubs in Tipton County. “In the girls’ clubs, I took foods and sewing, but the entomology projects were always my favorite,” she said.
Exploring new interests was just one of the many things Cathy loved about her time in 4‑H. “I really liked that 4‑H promoted leadership development through opportunities like public speaking competitions and demonstration contests,” Cathy said. “The leaders always encouraged us to try new things which made those years so formative for me.”
After high school, Cathy attended Indiana State University where she majored in Biology. She went on to teach high school Biology for a few years before making a career change – one that would require the leadership skills developed in 4‑H.
“At the advice of my brother, a Vietnam veteran, I decided to join the Army. My mother was not happy and my father, a WWII veteran, also had trepidation, but they were still very supportive.”
Cathy joined the Women’s Army Corps in 1976 and proudly served her country for 20 years as a chemical officer. Her military career took her around the country and around the world, including two assignments in Germany and a deployment to Desert Storm.
Though she was far from home, 4‑H always seemed to find her. While stationed at Fort McClellan in Alabama, a friend invited Cathy to attend a local 4‑H demonstration contest.
“I was immediately hooked again and started volunteering at public speaking and demonstration contests,” she said.
After retiring from the military, Cathy and her husband Mark settled in Aberdeen, Maryland, near the last base they were stationed. Once again, 4‑H found her.
“I was walking through the mall and saw a bunch of insect cases set up for the county 4‑H entomology club. I made a beeline toward them, and later my husband said, ‘I’ve never seen you move so fast!’” After that chance meeting, Cathy volunteered with the club and also with public speaking contests for many years.
Volunteering is just one of the ways Cathy feels she can give back to a program that has given her so much. The other is financial support, particularly for programs funded by the Indiana 4‑H Foundation.
Cathy is a member of the Emerald Giving Club, which honors donors who make gifts of $5,000 or more to support the greatest needs of the Indiana 4‑H Foundation. Greatest need gifts are those that are not restricted to a specific program.
“I will forever thank 4‑H for helping me develop the leadership and personal interaction skills that have served me well throughout my life,” Cathy said.
“By giving to the Foundation, I hope it will help kids find something that is going to be with them for the rest of their lives and help them be successful.”
For more information about how to donate to the Indiana 4‑H Foundation, visit in4h.org/my-best-gift.