{"id":1631,"date":"2025-12-29T17:02:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T22:02:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/utia.tennessee.edu\/spotlights\/?p=1631"},"modified":"2025-12-29T17:03:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T22:03:02","slug":"sarah-keenan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/utia.tennessee.edu\/spotlights\/sarah-keenan\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarah Keenan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

UT Extension Maury County 4-H Youth Development<\/a> agent guides youth toward lifelong skills and success<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n

Where are you from, and how did your education and career lead you to UT Extension?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I grew up in Brentwood, Tennessee. As I got older, I started spending my extra time, and every day of my summers, on my grandparent\u2019s horse and cattle farm in Franklin. I also began participating in horse shows. Horses were already a big part of my family\u2019s life, and they became an even bigger part of my own. Without this background, I\u2019m not sure that I would have ended up studying agriculture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for my journey to Extension\u2026 it may be more of a \u201croad less traveled.\u201d I was in 4-H in elementary school, but didn\u2019t reconnect to it until college. Honestly, it was a few conversations with professors, and friends at UT Knoxville that led me to Extension.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n

What inspired you to dedicate your career to 4-H youth development and animal science education?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have always had a love for animal science, horses especially. Growing up with our family farm, you could always find me out with the horses or checking the cows. It was a big part of my family heritage and something I greatly value. I think that was what inspired me to find a career path in Extension.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n

With more than 2,000 students in Maury County 4-H, what does a typical day look like for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The variety of Extension work really appeals to me because no two days are ever the same. Some days, I am teaching public speaking or delivering STEM programs during our in-school program, or leading judging team practices. Other days, I may be working at a regional or state event.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n

As a coach for multiple judging teams, what are some of the most common challenges students face, and how do you help them overcome those obstacles?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are now in a world of instant gratification and feedback. It can be really hard to keep youth engaged within judging teams. I have found that setting goals for both individuals and as a team helps. Youth setting and accomplishing smaller goals that in the end lead to larger ones can make them feel a sense of mastery and accomplishment. Sometimes you have to really break it down to them. \u201cHey, today, we accomplished A, B, C. Next time, we can take what we did today, and accomplish goal D, and keep moving towards the larger goal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n