Stories

Annie Watts Cloncs
Putnam county, IN, 1957 to 1967

Once a 4-Her...always a 4-Her! Or at least, that's my story. Hello, I'm Annie Watts Cloncs, and I currently serve as President of the Indiana 4-H Foundation. I completed ten years of 4-H - nine in Jackson County and my final year in Spencer County after my family had moved there in 1965. Both my parents - Stanley W. Watts and Laura Ray Watts - had been in 4-H so my siblings and I joined as soon as we could. I credit 4-H for the many leadership and communications skills that I use every day. 4-H demonstrations, Share-the-Fun contests, State Junior Leader Council and the Indiana Youthpower Conference were all experiences that led to my career choice...Foods in Business. After graduating from Purdue, my career took me to Stokely-Van Camp in Indianapolis and then Campell Soup Company in New Jersey and Borden, Inc. in Columbus, OH. I returned to Indiana in 1992 and started my own marketing communications company - Annie Watts Food Marketing Services where I'm still using those 4-H demonstration and public speaking skills! A few years later, Dick Butler (then President of the Foundation) and his wife Jamie Street who had been 4-Hers and Purdue colleagues with me asked if I'd help in the development of a fundraising recipe book. I said "yes," eager to share my expertise and have the chance to "give back" to 4-H. So here I am full circle, serving on the Indiana 4-H Foundation Board of Directors. So...at least for me, "Once a 4-Her...always a 4-Her!" (Photo is of me "demonstrating" one of my client products, award-winning Cabot cheddar cheese.)