Jake Williams epitomizes 4-H

Published Thursday, March 20, 2008

By Denny Deady

Jacob Scott Williams. Say the name out loud and it's likely even his closest friends won't recognize it. But say "Jake" and heads will turn...lots of them. Jake, the 17-year-old son of Herb and Susan Williams of Decatur, has a multitude of friends, not only through his many activities at Decatur High School where he is a junior, but throughout the state with his nine-year involvement with 4-H.

Jake represents all that is good about 4-H. He is the epitome of 4-H - the poster child, if you will. At this year's Wise County Youth Fair, he will show a heifer, he'll have a project in clothing, he'll enter foods, he'll compete in photography and he'll enter a craft. And none of these is a last minute project just to have an entry in the Youth Fair. They are projects that occupy his time 12 months a year.

Wise County 4-H is in District 3, Rolling Plains. Jake is president of the district council, the first president ever from Wise County. He heads the activities in 26 counties in this, the 100th anniversary of 4-H. Rich tradition has always been a part of Jake's life. He is the sixth generation to live on the 4,600-acre Williams/Ferguson ranch north of Decatur. His grandmother, Ann Williams, is practically speechless when it comes to expressing her pride in Jake for wanting to someday take over operation of the ranch that was founded by her grandfather, W.P. Ferguson in 1891.

The ranch was originally located in Wise, Clay, Wichita and Archer counties. When W.P. Ferguson died, it was split between his two sons. Headquarters were in Wichita Falls until the late 1960s, at which time the main office was moved to Decatur. The ranch was known for its registered Hereford cattle. Herbert Newton Ferguson, Ann Williams' father, operated the Decatur ranch and when his health failed, he turned to his daughter and son-in-law for help. Ann's husband, the late Harry Williams, was employed by Standard Oil at the time, but he and Ann returned to Wise County and the family ranch.

Herb, one of the Williams two sons and his wife, Susan, live on what is now known as the Williams/Ferguson Ranch LP. Jake is eager to continue the family tradition. He plans to attend Texas A&M University and major in agriculture business, with a minor in ranch management. After college, he would like to begin his ranch management career at the family-owned ranch in Clay County, which his dad and uncle inherited from their grandfather.

Jake's nine years in 4-H have prepared him for that career. He has learned extensive record-keeping with his heifers which he feels will be beneficial when he starts his feedlot calf operation in Clay County. His current project is "Queenie," a heifer he purchased after winning in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Calf Scramble.

His memories of growing up on the storied ranch are vivid - from the red boots he wore to his grandfather putting him atop his first horse. His mom remembers hauling hay shortly after Jake was born. She drove a truck around the ranch with Jake in a car seat beside her, his older siblings, Bert and Amanda, in the back of the truck helping their dad. The ranch is in his blood and everything he is learning through 4-H and from his high school ag teacher Jim Allsup is preparing him to spend the rest of his life there.

"A lot of kids don't have this opportunity," said Jake. "Most kids don't have this much land. I guess I'm kind of lucky."

He started showing cows at about age 12, and as his interest grew, he attended sales. His experience on the 4-H livestock judging team as well as the Decatur FFA judging team has helped him select good cattle at the sales. He now has 12 registered cows in his name.

Just like the first sale he attended where he was nervous about spending his hard-earned money, Jake remembers his first 4-H meeting.

"I was so shy," he recalls.

He was elected club reporter, a job that didn't require that he get up and speak before the group. Now he travels throughout the 26-county 4-H District 3, speaking confidently in front of his peers. In January, he gave the invocation at the Livestock Appreciation Day luncheon at the Fort Worth Stock Show, sitting at the head table with some of the biggest names in Fort Worth, facing a crowd of several hundred people.

"I'm able to meet people, to make connections," said Jake. "I can carry on a conversation with anyone, from an 8-year-old to someone who is elderly and can hardly hear. I've learned new things about myself."

Jake's leadership role in 4-H on the district level is especially meaningful this year, in the 100th year of 4-H. He received a Centennial ring, one of only 35 awarded. He has helped promote the new 4-H ice cream that Blue Bell manufactured just for the Centennial celebration. He worked with local grocery stores to get the product in stores.

As a member of the Centennial Texas 4-H Council, Jake is totally at ease spreading the 4-H message around the state. He is also the incoming president of the Clothing Board for Texas 4-H, the grassroots committee that gives input to make the clothing project meaningful for youth.

"Jake is a very driven and responsible young person that has developed and honed a skill set that will make him a valuable asset to any college, career and community he chooses," said Kelli D. Lehman, 4-H Extension Program Specialist for District 3. She added that Jake is an example of what it means to be a part of the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program.

The list of Jake's awards and accomplishments is extensive. Following in the footsteps of his brother and sister, he has won the highest local 4-H award, the Gold Star award, as well as every other local award except the Farm Bureau Award. His dad is president of Wise County Farm Bureau. He is a consistent winner and state qualifier in all of his projects, including consumer buying, fashion design-textile, photography, consumer life skills, clothing and food. He has held every office in his 4-H club and has placed at the major shows as well as the Wise County Youth Fair with his livestock.

Jake's 4-H and FFA activities would appear to take every minute of his time. At Decatur High School, he is a member of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Spanish Honor Society. He is treasurer of the junior class and plays football and basketball and runs track.

"There's no real time to relax," he says.

Jake is well aware of how he is able to combine so many activities and do as well as he does.

"My mom is a 4-H program assistant and she helps me with the clothing and food. My dad helps with the animals. They have supported me so much. I wouldn't be able to do all this without them."