“I believe I am where I’m at today because I was in the 4-H program,” said Roy Lee Lindsey Jr., executive director for the Oklahoma Pork Council and loyal donor to the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation.
As a 4-H’er in Washita County, Lindsey's main projects were beef, citizenship, leadership and public speaking. He said he still can remember the first speech he gave as a 4-H member.
After graduating from Cordell High School, Lindsey became an Oklahoma State University Cowboy. He completed his bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and master’s degree in agricultural education, emphasizing in Extension education.
In 1995, Lindsey was hired as the 4-H educator in Cleveland County. He held that position for two years before moving to Lawrence, Kansas, to be the Douglas County 4-H educator. Since December 1998, Lindsey has held his current position at the Oklahoma Pork Council.
Tom Manske, former Oklahoma 4-H Foundation development director, said Lindsey’s dedication to the promotion of the pork industry is “matched only by his passion for Oklahoma 4-H.”
When Lindsey returned to Oklahoma, he began his devoted support to the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation.
“Shortly after coming back to Oklahoma, I was approached about joining the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation board of directors,” he said.
Lindsey has played an instrumental role in the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation. As a board member, he assisted in writing and modernizing the bylaws, constitution and many other documents, he said. In addition, he was a founding member of the Circle of Champions, a group of donors who collectively have given more than $100,000 to support the operation of the Foundation.
The opportunity to provide leadership and monetary assistance to the Foundation was one Lindsey said he did not hesitate to take.
“Giving back to the Foundation is a drop in the bucket compared to what I have taken out of 4-H,” he said.
Under Lindsey's leadership, the Oklahoma Pork Council also has been a longtime donor and supporter of the 4-H program, funding scholarships, enhancement grants and other programs.
“Roy Lee has worked with the Pork Council to provide some of the strongest support we receive from a commodity group," said Jim Rutledge, former executive director for the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation. "The Pork Council supports the Swine Project Scholarship, county project medals, enhancement grants, Ag in the Classroom programs and the Pork Picnic on the first night of 4-H Roundup.”
“It’s so easy to be a donor,” Lindsey said. “There’s something in it for everyone, not just for the kids, but also through a donor perspective.”
Photo provided by Roy Lee Lindsey Jr.
Published 2016