McNally to be inducted into National 4-H Hall of Fame

Friday, October 3, 2014

Leader. Innovator. Influencer. Patricia (Pat) McNally has set the bar high for other 4-H professionals, making a lasting impact and influencing others on state and national 4-H levels.

Her lifetime achievements and contributions to the 4-H program will be recognized Oct. 10 when she is inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. She will join 13 others from around the country who also are receiving this prestigious honor.

McNally graduated from Colorado State University in 1970 and joined the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service family in 1974. Remarkably, while working full-time in different county, district and state positions, she completed her master’s and doctoral degrees at Oklahoma State University. For the next 34 years as a 4-H youth development professional, she worked in Iowa, Virginia and Kansas.

McNally quickly became a pioneer in outdoor education and challenge-based programming. She introduced adventure-based programming presentations to state, regional and national meetings and organized the first non-Boy Scout group to Philmont Scout Ranch, where she led 48 youth and adults on a backpacking adventure.

“When the Philmont Scout Ranch opened its doors to non-Scouts, it was a great opportunity to keep older 4-H members involved,” McNally said.

Exemplifying her love of adventure, McNally’s Kansas 4-H Venturers have traveled across the country. From canoeing the Boundary Waters in Minnesota to exploring the natural wonders of Alaska, McNally encouraged youth to persevere and, most importantly, have fun.

Being a natural leader, McNally served as a charter member, the first treasurer, and president of the Oklahoma Association of Extension Agents and later, served as regional director, vice president and president of the National Association of Extension Agents.

From 1993 to 1999, she was a member of the National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee, where she developed and managed the curriculum for state program coordinators. McNally also was the co-chair of the National 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator Workshop in Nevada, teaching eight hours of workshop sessions for 50 professionals from 35 states.

Overall, McNally has made more than 50 professional presentations outside her home state of Kansas and hundreds of in-state presentations. Her influence is so valued, she was an invited presenter at the 1992 International Conference of the Association for Experiental Educators in Canada.

Most recently, McNally managed Oklahoma’s Operation: Military Kids program, working with military and community partners to assist and support children of deployed and returning soldiers while building strong, supportive networks for families, before she retired earlier this year.

She said she loved working alongside an amazing staff while helping others through OMK. McNally said witnessing the strong connection families make while participating in events was rewarding.

McNally continues to impact others and leave her mark on 4-H programs. Her never-ending devotion and fun-loving spirit makes her more than deserving to be inducted into the National Hall of Fame.

The National 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2002 as part of the Centennial Project of the NAE4-HA in partnership with National 4-H Council and National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. For more information about the National 4-H Hall of Fame event and past recipients, visit www.nae4ha.com/hof.