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Mary Kerstetter (left), sits next to an Iraqi government official, Salam Singer, at the country’s first National 4-H Conference held in Baghdad in May. Kerstetter recently returned to the United States after more than two years as an agricultural advisor for USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Iraq, where she was instrumental in establishing 4-H clubs across the country. Photo courtesy of Mary Kerstetter.

USDA Employee Founds 4-H in Iraq, Brings Hope to Iraqi Youth

Since the early twentieth century, 4-H (head-heart-hands-health) has been an avenue for American boys and girls to develop leadership skills, receive vocational training, participate in community service and much more.

Today, 4-H, which is USDA’s premier youth development program, has clubs in 81 different countries including Iraq, thanks to the hard work and perseverance of one USDA employee—Mary Kerstetter.

Karoline Scott, Foreign Agricultural Service, Public Affairs Specialist Posted in Trade

Jul 05, 2011

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