Meet Casey Mull: New program leader for Indiana 4-H Youth Development

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Extension recently announced the hiring of Casey Mull as the new assistant director and program leader for Indiana 4-H Youth Development.

“We’re really excited to have Casey on board. He comes from outside our program a brings fresh perspective to Indiana 4-H,” said Jason Henderson, director of Purdue Extension and senior associate dean for Purdue’s College of Agriculture.

Mull, who officially started the job on April 1, previously served as an Extension military specialist for 4-H Youth Development at the University of Georgia.

Tell us a little a bit about yourself in the background in the agriculture industry.

“I’m the grandson of a dairy farmer, and a toilet paper salesman, on my mother’s side, and of a cabbage farmer on my dad’s side. My grandpa helped coordinate the local county fair in upstate New York on either side of World War II.

“Our family business is a wholesale nursery, located in Athens, Georgia. We sell over 100 varieties of quality groundcovers and perennials across the United States.

“Classic Groundcovers is viewed as a marketing pioneer across the industry and has been in business for over 57 years. What this all means is that I grew up digging holes for sprigs of liriope.”

Were you a 4-H member yourself? If so, how many years were you in 4-H and what were some of the projects you participated?

“A lady named Marilyn Poole changed my life when she entered my fifth-grade classroom and opened the door to 4-H. I began in fifth grade, and I continued in 4-H through 12th grade.

“In Georgia, winners at the state level become Master 4-H’ers. I mastered in the general recreation project and the dean’s award or citizenship. My general project included a presentation on social dance and etiquette.

“After high school, I was a 4-H camp counselor for three summers at Rock Eagle 4-H Center, where we served 1,000 fifth- and sixth-graders every week.”

What will some of your roles and responsibilities be as a program leader for 4-H Youth Development in Indiana?

“I see my primary role as an advocate for young people in the state and their needs, hopes and aspirations. I’ll carry their thoughts and ideas to others at Purdue University in order to identify ways for them to bring change, strengthening their own clubs and communities.

“I am able to accomplish this by stewarding strategic collaborations across the teaching, research and Extension areas of Purdue University and equipping our Extension educators with the skills to empower volunteers and youth in their community.”

How has your past work in the 4-H organization prepared you for this new role with Indiana 4-H?

“Over the past decade, I have served as one of two individuals on loan from the land-grant university system to the Air Force. In that role, I was able to see the successes of 4-H in a variety of states and communities.

“I feel I can bring those strengths of multiple states to share in Indiana. There is nothing traditional about 4-H. Every 4-H community has their own traditions.

“Additionally, I served as the president of the 4-H professionals association and the 10,000-member association of all Extension professionals. That allowed me to engage with countless leaders and mentors who lead Extension and 4-H programming nationwide.”

What are some of the goals you hope to achieve as the new program leader of Indiana for 4-H Youth Development?

“I want all youth to feel they belong in Indiana 4-H regardless of their ZIP code or interests. I want to engage new and historic partners to bring agricultural literacy to communities where young people don’t understand from where their food and fiber comes from.

“I want young people to be engaged with the resources of Purdue University, seeing higher education as a viable option. The Purdue Fast Start and Klinsky Scholars program is one way we can engage more youth with a long-term, accessible Purdue University experience.”