Matthew Hornbostel is a dedicated individual with a deep passion for agriculture and livestock, which has named him a 2024 Illinois 4-H Alumni Award winner.
Matthew’s 4-H experience with livestock through growing up in 4-H, has helped him to develop a wealth of experience from his early involvement as well as volunteer roles today including a club leader, livestock judge, and coach for 4-H teams. Professionally, Matthew is employed by South Central FS as a Dairy & Beef Specialist, focusing on nutrition and feed sales for dairy and beef cattle. His responsibilities include making farm visits, building rations, coordinating feed deliveries, and maintaining customer service.
Matthew is committed to making 4-H accessible to all youth, emphasizing the importance of public speaking and teaching life skills like responsibility and commitment. His engagement with 4-H extends to volunteering at various events and serving as a reliable mentor and leader. His passion for agriculture is evident both in his professional and volunteer work, and he strives to share this passion with others, just as it was shared with him. Amanda Fox-Clark, Extension Program Coordinator in Washington County states, “Matt is an ideal example of the type of volunteer we all wish we could clone. He is dedicated, supportive, passionate and easy to work with.”
Matthew is active in multiple agricultural organizations. Ramona Girtman, 4-H Youth Development Coordinator stated, “Matthew has an unmatched spirit of generosity and genuinely supports all things 4-H”. As a key volunteer, Matthew also volunteers his time by serving on the Washington County Fair board and as a superintendent for the open sheep show. He is also involved with the Washington County Youth Livestock Auction Committee and the Washington County Extension Education Foundation.
Rhonda Shubert summed up Matthew’s dedication as, “Matthew’s blood really does run green.”