At 16 years old, Annabelle Longmire is preparing to begin her seventh year as a Clark County 4-H member. Over the years, 4-H has provided her with opportunities to explore new interests, develop leadership skills, and build confidence through hands-on learning. Those experiences ultimately helped Annabelle discover a passion that is shaping her future: aviation.
The journey began in May 2023 when then-Clark County 4-H Program Coordinator Jennifer Bishop was approached by past President and member of EAA Chapter 83 and Clark County 4-H alum, Keith Welsh. Welsh introduced the Clark County 4-H program to the Young Eagles initiative, an aviation program designed to inspire youth ages 8 to 17 through free introductory flights and aviation education.
Young Eagles participants receive much more than a flight. Youth are provided with an official flight logbook endorsed by a certified pilot, access to free online ground school training, a complimentary EAA student membership, and a variety of resources designed to encourage future exploration of aviation careers and opportunities.
When Annabelle attended her first Young Eagles event, she discovered something that would change the course of her future.
That first flight sparked a passion for aviation that continues to grow today. Annabelle has attended numerous Young Eagles events, learning from pilots, exploring the science of flight, and building connections within the aviation community. What began as curiosity quickly became a clear career aspiration.
“The influencers who choose to invest in a child’s future are the people who make opportunities like this happen. 4-H leaders, Illinois Extension staff, EAA 83 members, Young Eagles pilots- without these amazing people who not only believed in me, but encouraged me to reach higher with my future, I could never have been offered such a grand scholarship and career opportunity,” said Annabelle.
Her dedication recently earned her selection as a recipient of the prestigious Ray Aviation Scholarship, a highly competitive scholarship that provides full funding for flight training leading to a private pilot certificate. Through this scholarship, Annabelle expects to achieve her goal of earning her private pilot certification by taking the exam on her 17th birthday.
“Annabelle has been one of our most enthusiastic Young Eagles, and it was our honor to nominate her for the Ray Aviation Scholarship. EAA Chapter 83 is excited to see Annabelle begin this journey as our first Ray Aviation Scholar. We're proud to support her as she pursues her dreams of becoming a pilot, and we look forward to watching her journey unfold while she lays the groundwork for future Ray Aviation Scholars who will follow in her footsteps through our chapter,” said Blake Litchfield, Young Eagle/Eagle Coordinator.
Welsh, who organized the event, felt that having a relationship with Clark County 4-H and assisting with past Young Eagle events, as well as being from Clark County, made it a natural fit. “Congratulations to Annabelle on receiving this award. I look forward to following your progress as you advance toward your aviation career,” Welsh said.
While aviation has become her passion, Annabelle's success is rooted in the broad range of experiences she has gained through 4-H. Throughout her years in the program, she has challenged herself to explore every aspect of 4-H programming, completing projects in each of the Illinois 4-H program areas. From STEM and career exploration to agriculture, healthy living, civic engagement, and leadership development, Annabelle has embraced opportunities to learn, grow, and develop new skills.
Her willingness to step outside her comfort zone and try projects across multiple disciplines reflects the curiosity, adaptability, and determination that have helped her excel in aviation. The confidence she developed through years of project work, presentations, record-keeping, and goal setting prepared her to pursue ambitious opportunities like the Ray Aviation Scholarship.
Annabelle's story demonstrates the power of community partnerships and positive youth development. A conversation between a local aviation enthusiast and a 4-H educator opened the door to an opportunity that introduced one young person to a life-changing passion. Through the support of caring for adults, community organizations, and the 4-H program, Annabelle transformed that opportunity into a pathway toward achieving her dreams.
As she prepares to earn her pilot license, Annabelle serves as an inspiring example of how 4-H helps young people discover their strengths, pursue their interests, and find their place in the future.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.