Dax and Fletcher are both enthusiastic members of the Mulhall-Orlando 4-H club. “4-H is a youth organization that really teaches kids how to be responsible and make connections with other people and their community,” Fletcher said. “It stands for the Head, the Heart, Hands, and Health of every member,” Dax said.
The Inmans have a rich tradition of involvement in 4-H. “Growing up, I was always looking forward to 4-H. My parents both were in 4-H and I’d always known it was going to be part of my life and I’d always known I was going to do it,” Fletcher said. “My parents being involved in it was a big contributing factor, but a lot of the stuff that we do every day can fall into 4-H. Anything you do, it’ll fit into a project area.”
As passionate members of 4-H, Dax and Fletcher have participated in many projects, but there are certain ones that bring up fond memories for them. “One of my favorite memories was when it was my first year in 4-H. I was actually at the Tulsa State Fair, and I won Pre-Champion Yorkshire Barrow and I got to be in the Night of Champions,” Dax said. “Mine was probably about a year ago. You probably can’t tell, but I like talking to people, and I do speeches. I think it was just about a year ago when I won the State Speech Contest in my division.” Fletcher said.
4-H teaches its members traits and skills that will last a lifetime. “I think it really teaches kids to be responsible, it teaches determination, grit, and hard work,” Fletcher said. 4-H teaches these skills through hands-on learning by completing various projects. But to Dax, they go way beyond just being a project to complete. “I think it teaches you how much you can actually do with just one simple project. You can just go so far into it and you can create passions and hobbies from them.” A current passion project for Fletcher involves the great outdoors and some gardening. “Right now I’m growing tomatoes. I’ve been doing it for maybe about two years now, two summers, and I’ve really gotten into it. I’m growing a whole bunch of different varieties and it’s great!” Their club also does monthly community service projects like organizing a flag retirement and tending a community garden. There are also several local special interest clubs including a horse club, a sewing club and a cooking club, as well as livestock judging teams and cattle grading teams. Other projects that the Inman family have participated in include horticulture, public speaking, food and nutrition, STEM and robotics, and shooting sports.
A huge part of the Inman’s 4-H passion lies in showing their pigs. “We’re both getting our show pigs ready for the county, district, and the Tulsa State Fair. Lots of members show livestock. We show gilts and barrows,” Dax said. Showing animals has become a family tradition. “Dax and I have done it since we can remember, and our mom showed sheep and our dad showed cattle, so our family’s been showing there for almost 40 years. It’s a passion for us. Showing has always been a big part of our lives,” Fletcher said. They both agreed that the best part is working with their pigs and fine tuning every little detail to make them better.
There is an emphasis on community in 4-H. It’s a program meant for everyone, and Dax and Fletcher believe that wholeheartedly. “You should do it. There’s so many great people you’ll meet in your community, probably people you’ve never met before.” Fletcher said. “Anything you do, any passion, hobby, anything that you take pride in and enjoy, you can turn into a 4-H project.” Dax agrees, “If you have any 4-H meetings around your town, you should really try to sign up for it.” With as many programs and topics that 4-H covers, they both believe there is something out there for everyone. “If your teacher wants you to do 4-H, if anybody wants you to do 4-H, take that chance, take that opportunity. You will find something to enjoy in it,” Fletcher said.
It's clear that 4-H does more than just teach skills—it teaches personal growth, community, and connection. This is a program that creates enthusiasm and pride in accomplishments. With every project and shared experience, 4-H is preparing its members for tomorrow and enriching their lives with valuable lessons and lasting memories.
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